Boscombe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’ll level with you—this is a rough one. Boscombe Pier is looking at a real dry spell over the next 16 days. There’s barely a wave worth paddling for, and the first couple of weeks give us almost nothing. The water is running way warmer than usual for this time of year, about 71°, which is a full 9° above the norm—that’s very unusual, like a warm bathtub, but it’s not gonna matter if there’s no surf to enjoy.

The first legit chance to get wet doesn’t come until Monday, the 17th of August. Before that, it’s a wasteland. From the 3rd through the 16th, there’s a gap of nearly two weeks with no decent surf. Most days the waves are under 2 feet, and when the swell does bump up a bit, the wind is all wrong—cross, cross-on, or just messy. The only real spike in size happens on the 5th and the 15th, with waves up to 7 feet, but the wind is cross or cross-on with a moderate breeze, turning it into a choppy, poor-quality mess. That kind of energy at 7 feet (combined energy of 284) is gonna be a washing machine—more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers. The swell is short-period, around 6 seconds, so no real shape to it.

Then, on Monday morning, the 17th of August, we finally get a little break. Clean conditions with a light cross-offshore breeze from the WNW, and the swell from the WSW at 1 foot, 7-second period. It’s tiny, but at least it’s clean. The standout is that same Monday afternoon, when the swell picks up to 4 feet from the WSW with a 5-second period, and the wind turns light cross-offshore from the NW. The combined energy is 63—still weak, but it’s the best on offer. The waves are surfable, but conditions are very ordinary. It’s a beach/pier setup, so with that short period, it’s gonna be a bit crumbly and soft. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so expect a few locals out, but it’s not gonna be packed. This is for the manage your expectations crowd—beginners can handle it since it’s under 5 feet.

Tuesday the 18th of August morning has clean conditions too, with a light offshore from the NNE, but the swell drops back to 2 feet, 5-second period, combined energy 24. Not worth getting excited about.

So, the best of a bad bunch is the Monday afternoon of the 17th of August. It’s not a classic standout, but it’s the only window where things line up a little. For the rest of the 16 days, you’re better off taking a break—this is a typical quiet spell for this area when the conditions just don’t cooperate. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a tough one.

Rusty

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