Surf Forecasts:
Birling Gap surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.1m), 8s period, SW swell with 3 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Birling Gap this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Birling Gap in the next 16 days are 0.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 0.5ft (0.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Birling Gap over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Birling Gap.
Gotta be honest, this is a rough stretch. The whole 16-day window is mostly flat, with the swell barely flickering to life. Combined energy values sit at a measly 1 to 3 for the first couple of weeks. Just tiny 0.3ft pulses from the west that won’t get you moving.
The only time we see a glimpse of something is right at the end. On the 28th of July, Tuesday afternoon, a 2ft SSW swell shows up with a super short 3-second period. Combined energy is only 6. That’s still basically a lake. Then the 29th of July, Wednesday morning, is the best we get: a 2ft WSW swell with a 6-second period, giving us a combined energy of 61. That’s weak, but it’s the most energy in the whole window. The wind is a light 9 mph cross-onshore from the WSW, so it’ll be choppy. Not a good day, just the least bad day.
Birling Gap is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, but with this kind of run, it’s a bust. The water temp is 67°, much warmer than usual for this time of year. Doesn’t help the waves though.
For the first 13 days, there’s nothing. Then that little bump on the 29th is the only chance. Honestly, if you’re a kite surfer, even the choppy stuff might be more fun than sitting on the beach. For paddle surfing, this is a write-off.
Don’t sweat it too much – the forecasts can change, and it never stays this flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | E 3 | NE 3 | ENE 3 | E 3 | W 8 | SW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | E 3 | W 8 | W 8 | — | NE 3 | SSW 3 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | — |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:36PM6.52m | 00:55AM6.58m | 1:23PM6.63m | 1:41AM6.59m | 2:08PM6.60m | 2:26AM6.45m | 2:52PM6.43m | 3:10AM6.18m | 3:35PM6.14m | 3:53AM5.81m | 4:19PM5.77m | 4:39AM5.41m | 5:05PM5.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:06PM0.45m | 7:30AM0.11m | 7:55PM0.38m | 8:16AM0.11m | 8:41PM0.43m | 9:01AM0.25m | 9:26PM0.60m | 9:44AM0.52m | 10:10PM0.85m | 10:27AM0.86m | 10:54PM1.15m | 11:11AM1.23m | 11:40PM1.46m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 26 | 20 | 25 | 26 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 7 | SW 6 | — | — | ENE 3 | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | W 7 | W 6 | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | W 8 | W 8 | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | E 3 | NE 3 | ENE 3 | E 3 | NE 3 | NNE 3 | — | — | — | SSW 2 | E 3 | NE 3 | — | — | NE 3 | SSW 3 | — | NNE 2 | — | — |
| kJ | 7 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 424 | 424 | 622 | 424 | 529 | 100 | 369 | 1931 | 423 | 487 | 487 | 200 | 371 | 424 | 200 | 247 | 721 | 314 | 369 | 380 | 402 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Birling Gap surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Birling Gap Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Birling Gap provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Birling Gap can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Birling Gap surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Birling Gap) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Birling Gap may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in South Coast of England? If you are looking for accommodation near Birling Gap, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in South Coast of England, consider staying in Seaford which is 8 km (5 miles) away. Other places in and around South Coast of England where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Newhaven which is 12 km (7 miles) away, Hailsham, Eastbourne and Herstmonceux.
Nearest