Surf Forecasts:
Brighton surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, WSW swell with 129 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Brighton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Brighton in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Brighton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Well, folks, let’s be honest right off the bat: this stretch is a tough one. Brighton (Brighton) is looking at a long, blank run with nothing to get excited about for the entire 16-day forecast window. The water temperature is sitting at 70°F – that’s 8°F warmer than usual for this time of year, which is very unusual, but it won’t help the waves one bit.
We’ve got a gap of no real surf from the start all the way through the end of the outlook. The first few days are basically flat, with tiny dribbles of 0.3ft to 0.7ft swell from the west or southwest, but the energy is weak – the combined swell energy barely cracks double digits (4, 6, 9, 10) – and most of the time the wind is cross or onshore, chopping up what little is there. Friday morning the 14th offers a clean window with a light WNW cross-off breeze, but it’s only 0.7ft of 6-second swell, so you’re not even getting your feet wet.
By Friday afternoon the 14th, the swell bumps up to 3ft from the WSW, but the period is a pathetic 4 seconds and the wind swings to a fresh 19 mph cross-on, making it lumpy and messy. The energy is still weak at 50. Saturday the 15th morning has a clean look with NNW cross-off wind, but again only 1.0ft of 5-second swell – energy at 6. Sunday morning the 16th has a brief offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, but the swell is 0.7ft at 8 seconds, energy 6, so not even a knee-high runner.
The pattern keeps repeating: tiny swell, short periods, and often cross-onshore or lumpy winds. The only real pulse comes on the 19th and 20th, with swell heights around 3ft to 4ft from the WSW, but the period is still only 5 seconds, the wind is strong and cross-onshore, and the energy is still weak (26 to 57). The wave comment says “poor surf conditions” across the board – every single row. There’s no standout, no hidden gem, no day where it all comes together.
For a beach/pier setup like Brighton, with the swell direction mostly WSW and the wind often cross or onshore, this is more of a kite-surfing scenario than a paddle-surfing one. The consistency is listed as “inconsistent,” and that’s playing out exactly as described. This is a blank run, plain and simple. Hang tight, check back later – forecasts can change, but right now there’s nothing to ride.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Thu night, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 11 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 10 | WSW 7 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 4 | WSW 8 | W 7 | WSW 4 | W 7 | WSW 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 41 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 00:03AM5.70m | 12:31PM5.85m | 00:47AM5.90m | 1:13PM6.01m | 1:28AM5.95m | 1:52PM6.00m | 2:07AM5.85m | 2:30PM5.85m | 2:45AM5.62m | 3:07PM5.58m | 3:22AM5.29m | 3:43PM5.22m | 4:00AM4.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:54PM0.54m | 6:18AM0.13m | 6:41PM0.31m | 7:02AM-0.04m | 7:24PM0.21m | 7:43AM-0.04m | 8:05PM0.24m | 8:21AM0.10m | 8:43PM0.40m | 8:59AM0.37m | 9:21PM0.66m | 9:36AM0.73m | 10:00PM0.99m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 10 | WSW 7 | WSW 9 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 4 | SW 7 | — | WSW 4 | — | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | — |
| kJ | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | ENE 4 | E 3 | SW 7 | SW 10 | — | SW 9 | W 8 | — | — | SW 8 | WSW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | NW 3 | N 3 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | SSW 2 | WSW 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 5 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 41 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 181 | 181 | 158 | 143 | 348 | 266 | 288 | 419 | 378 | 419 | 419 | 387 | 419 | 451 | 345 | 702 | 325 | 325 | 359 | 349 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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