Surf Forecasts:
Brighton surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, WSW swell with 237 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with SW 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 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period. 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 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore 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 22) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Brighton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me level with you. This is Brighton, and for the next sixteen days, it's looking pretty grim. There are no standout sessions on the cards, so I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The whole stretch is a write-off for any decent paddle surfing.
We're looking at a long, blank run. For the next week or so, the wave energy is weak, barely cracking triple digits (like 148) on the combined energy scale, and the swell is a messy, short-period windswell—never more than 6ft and mostly around 4ft to 5ft. The problem is the wind. It's howling from the west and southwest, smashing the place with a lumpy cross to cross-onshore chop. That’s not surf; that’s a washing machine. Brighton’s a beach and pier setup, and with this much wind and poor quality, it looks way more interesting for kite surfing than for a proper paddle session.
There’s a brief window on Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd of August where the wind swings light offshore from the north-northeast, but the swell drops to a pathetic 2ft at best, with combined energy down to 21. You’ll be scratching for scraps. Then from Sunday the 23rd onwards, it’s mostly flat as a pancake—0.3ft of swell—with a few glassy mornings, but nothing to ride.
Later on, around Monday the 31st of August, we see a little pulse of 6ft swell (combined energy 190), but it’s a short 6-second period and comes with a cross-shore breeze, so it’ll be choppy again. The following days into early September are just more of the same: onshore wind and messy conditions. There’s just nothing here that gets me excited. Honestly, forecasts can change, but for now, I’d leave the board at home.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu night, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 3 | W 4 | W 9 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 66 | 148 | 88 | 64 | 53 | 100 | 90 | 176 | 98 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 8:24AM3.75m | 9:03PM3.93m | 9:48AM4.00m | 10:08PM4.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:29PM2.07m | 3:10AM1.86m | 3:38PM1.87m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — |
 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 4 | W 9 | WSW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 98 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | WSW 7 | W 9 | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | — | — | W 9 | — | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 10 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | — | NNE 3 | — | N 3 | N 3 | — | NNE 2 | — | SW 3 | W 4 | — | WSW 3 | W 3 |
| kJ | 66 | 148 | 88 | 64 | 53 | 100 | 90 | 176 | — | 1 | — | 5 | 6 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 7 | — | 10 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 379 | 348 | 74 | 421 | 348 | 379 | 287 | 328 | 0 | 287 | 181 | 309 | 295 | 385 | 205 | 241 | 406 | 241 | 284 | 380 | 348 |
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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