Boscombe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here. I’m looking at the Boscombe area, and I’ve got to be straight with you—this is a tough stretch. The next 16 days are looking poor. We’re talking about a long dry spell, and it’s not until a full fortnight from now, on Sunday the 30th of August, that we finally see anything even approaching surfable. Up until then, all we’ve got is tiny waves and messy winds. Let’s run through it.

For the first two weeks, from now through the end of next week, it’s a total write-off. We’ve got wave heights barely scraping 3ft, but the swell period is mostly short—4 or 5 seconds—which means no power behind them. The occasional 3ft or 5ft wave appears mid-week, but it’s blown out by strong cross or cross-onshore winds between 12 and 15 mph, making those conditions poor. Take Tuesday the 18th: we see a 4ft swell but it’s a messy cross-shore, and the combined wave energy is just 63 (weak). Not something you paddle out for.

The water temperature is a huge talking point. For Boscombe, it’s sitting at 70°F with an anomaly of plus 8°F, meaning it’s much warmer than average for this time of year. That’s very unusual—you’d normally expect something cooler, so don’t expect that refreshing chill.

On Friday the 21st of August, there’s a tiny window. The morning brings a clean 2ft and the afternoon goes glassy with a 3ft swell, but the period is only 4 seconds. That’s a poor, weak wave which isn’t going to give you much ride.

Now, the only highlight comes late in the period. By the morning of Sunday the 30th of August, the wind finally swings offshore from the ENE at 6 mph, and we get a 4ft swell from the east, period 5 seconds. The combined energy reads 76 (still weak), and it’s described as ‘surfable waves but very ordinary conditions’. That’s your best and only shot. It’s a beach/pier setup at Boscombe Pier, which is fairly exposed to swell from the SSW, but we’re getting an east swell here. Usually this spot prefers a SSW swell, so that east angle won’t set it up perfectly. It’s inconsistent and crowds are sometimes a factor here, but on a day this marginal, you might just have the place to yourself. The afternoon turns onshore and choppy, so hit it early.

For the rest of the forecast, it’s a joke—basically flat and blown out until then. If you’re desperate, Sunday morning on the 30th is your only window, but keep the expectations low.

Rusty.

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