
Surf Forecasts:
Brighton surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, WSW swell with 64 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Brighton this week:
The surf forecast for Brighton over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Brighton in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Brighton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, and I've gotta be straight with you – the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a bit of a bummer for surfers. We're looking at a long, dry spell with no real swell on offer for Brighton. The whole 16-day window is a write-off if you're looking to paddle out on a surfboard.
Let's start with the first few days. Saturday the 1st kicks off with a tiny 0.7ft swell from the west-southwest, but it's only got a 4-second period, so it's all noise and no push. The combined energy is a measly 4 (weak), and the wind is cross-off in the morning, which would keep the surface clean, but there's just nothing to ride. By afternoon, the wind swings to a cross-shore breeze at 15 mph, making it messy.
Sunday the 2nd is even worse – the swell drops to 0.3ft and the combined energy is just 3 (weak). The wind is light and cross-shore, but with zero wave height, it's a flat calm. The next few days are more of the same: tiny, weak swells and often choppy, messy conditions. The wind is mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore, with the occasional clean morning, but the swell is just too small to do anything with.
We get a bit of a bump mid-week, but it's not worth getting excited about. On Wednesday the 5th, the swell pushes to 3ft from the west-southwest, but it's still a short-period 5-second swell, and the combined energy is only 50 (moderate). The kicker is the wind – it's a fresh onshore breeze at 19 mph, making it lumpy and horrible. Thursday the 6th is similar: 4ft swell but with a 19 mph onshore wind, so it's a full-on mess.
The pattern continues through the second week. The best we see is Wednesday the 12th, when a 2ft swell from the west shows up with a clean, cross-off wind. The combined energy climbs to 42 (moderate). But it's still only 2ft, and with a 5-second period, it's not going to produce any real shape. The next day, Thursday the 13th, the wind goes onshore and the swell drops again.
To be honest, even the bigger swell days – like the 4ft on the 6th and 12th – are all blown out by strong onshore winds. The setup at Brighton, with its beach and pier structure, would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those days. The combined energy hitting 96 (moderate) on the 12th afternoon is the highest we see, but it's coupled with a 19 mph fresh breeze, making it a messy, lumpy affair.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year, no surprises there. The crowds at Brighton are often present, but on these conditions, I doubt many will be out.
So, bottom line: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. If you're desperate for a paddle, you might get a clean but tiny wave on the morning of the 12th, but don't expect much. It's a tough run, but it tends not to stay this poor for long – forecasts can change. For now, leave the board in the shed. This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon night, min 16°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 9 | SW 8 | W 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | W 4 | WSW 8 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 6 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 23 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 12 | 24 | 50 | 54 | 45 | 61 | 49 | 7 | 4 | 2 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:56PM5.50m | 2:07AM5.44m | 2:29PM5.53m | 2:41AM5.41m | 3:04PM5.48m | 3:18AM5.30m | 3:42PM5.35m | 3:59AM5.11m | 4:25PM5.15m | 4:46AM4.87m | 5:15PM4.88m | 5:43AM4.60m | 6:18PM4.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:45AM0.44m | 8:04PM0.69m | 8:19AM0.43m | 8:39PM0.70m | 8:53AM0.50m | 9:15PM0.77m | 9:30AM0.64m | 9:56PM0.91m | 10:13AM0.86m | 10:44PM1.09m | 11:05AM1.12m | 11:43PM1.29m | 12:11PM1.36m | 00:55AM1.41m | |||||||
5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | |
— | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | W 10 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 10 | SW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 |
2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 7 | 4 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 9 | SW 9 | — | — | — | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | W 10 | W 9 |
— | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | WSW 4 | — | — | — | NE 2 | — | — | W 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 6 | — | — | ENE 4 |
2 | 23 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 11 | 6 | 17 | 12 | 24 | 50 | 54 | 45 | 61 | 49 | — | — | 13 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 389 | 406 | 406 | 406 | 349 | 293 | 268 | 307 | 306 | 388 | 349 | 250 | 325 | 325 | 287 | 74 | 362 | 0 | 689 | 119 | 84 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Brighton Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Brighton provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Brighton can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Brighton 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 (Brighton) 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 Brighton 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.
Brighton is 1 km (1 miles) from the city of Rottingdean. If you plan a holiday in South Coast of England, look for hotels and other accommodation in Rottingdean. Rottingdean has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











