Surf Forecasts:
Brighton surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 6s period, WSW swell with 270 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Brighton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Brighton in the next 16 days are 1.9m 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Brighton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got.
To be straight with you, it’s a pretty bleak run for Brighton. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions. There’s really nothing to get excited about in the first week, and the second week doesn’t offer much hope either.
We start off on Sunday, August 16, with tiny, weak 0.7ft swell from the WSW (8 second period) and barely any energy (6). The wind is a light cross-shore, but it’s just not enough to do anything with. That flat, weak pattern pretty much hangs around through Monday, 17th, with a morning 1ft swell (3 second period) and clean conditions thanks to a light cross-offshore breeze, but again, it’s just too small to surf.
The waves try to bump up a bit on Tuesday, 18th, but the wind switches to a moderate cross-shore, ruining the 3ft swell. By the 19th, Wednesday, we see the swell hit 5ft in the afternoon, but it’s backed by a strong cross-onshore wind, so it’s just a messy, lumpy mess. The combined energy gets up to 120, which is moderate, but the quality is terrible. Thursday, 20th, is more of the same: 6ft swell but strong cross-onshore wind making it hopeless for a paddle.
We then drop back into tiny surf for the end of the first week and into the second. Friday morning, 21st, has clean, small 1ft swell, but it’s just not worth a session. Saturday, 22nd, is pretty much flat with 0.3ft to 0.7ft.
From the 23rd through the 27th, we get a mix of tiny, short-period swell and mostly clean but powerless conditions. The 29th, Saturday, shows a slight uptick in the afternoon with 3ft swell and clean cross-offshore wind, but the period is a short 4 seconds, so the waves will be weak and crumbly.
The 30th and 31st are back to messy, strong onshore winds and tiny swell. Honestly, the only break here—Brighton—is a beach/pier setup that is inconsistent at the best of times, and this 16-day window is a real dud. There’s nothing to recommend.
The water temperature is about 70°F, which is much warmer than normal for the time of year.
Sorry, folks, but we’re in a flat spell. Leave the board in the car and wait for the charts to change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon night, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | W 3 | W 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | W 9 | E 3 | WSW 5 | E 3 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 14 | 21 | 102 | 68 | 59 | 120 | 159 | 93 | 176 | 49 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:30PM5.85m | 2:45AM5.62m | 3:07PM5.58m | 3:22AM5.29m | 3:43PM5.22m | 4:00AM4.90m | 4:20PM4.82m | 4:39AM4.49m | 5:02PM4.41m | 5:26AM4.11m | 5:55PM4.06m | 6:35AM3.80m | 7:20PM3.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:43PM0.40m | 8:59AM0.37m | 9:21PM0.66m | 9:36AM0.73m | 10:00PM0.99m | 10:15AM1.13m | 10:42PM1.36m | 11:00AM1.53m | 11:33PM1.70m | 11:58AM1.87m | 00:39AM1.95m | 1:10PM2.08m | 1:56AM2.02m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | | |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 3 | SW 6 | WSW 5 | — |
| kJ | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 3 | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | SW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | W 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 3 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | N 3 | N 3 | — | — | E 3 | SE 3 | E 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | 21 | 14 | 21 | 102 | 68 | 59 | 120 | 159 | 93 | 176 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 234 | 419 | 497 | 431 | 348 | 441 | 524 | 950 | 241 | 658 | 348 | 682 | 337 | 419 | 84 | 431 | 172 | 172 | 249 | 309 | 115 |
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.
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