Surf Forecasts:
Brighton surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, SW swell with 1,011 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with WSW 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 1AM. 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 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Brighton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here again. Let's take a look at what we've got coming up for Brighton over this next stretch. I'm not gonna lie to you, this is a lean period. The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until Thursday, the 10th of September, which means we’re looking at a solid week-plus of flat, messy, or blown-out conditions.
Right off the bat, the water is sitting at a very unusual 69°, which is nearly seven degrees warmer than average for this time of year – that's a real oddity. But the warmth is about the only nice thing you'll feel, because the surf is pretty much nonexistent.
For the first week or so, from Saturday the 29th of August right through to Wednesday the 9th of September, it’s a write-off. We’ve got strong S and SW winds, often cross-onshore, blowing everything to pieces. There’s some heavy rain, and the swell energy is all over the place but never clean. The wave comments all say the same thing: poor conditions. Don’t bother paddling out; the setup here is more interesting for the kite surfers than anyone with a paddle.
We finally get a sniff of something on Thursday, the 10th of September. That morning, we see a little 4ft SW swell, and for the first time the winds are clean. It's a cross-off breeze, making for surfable waves, but the wave comment tells a story: "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions". The combined energy is only 76 – that's weak. That afternoon the swell bumps up to 7ft from the SW with a combined energy reading of 320 (moderate), but the wind goes light and cross-shore, and the report says it's "marginal". It might look okay from the car park, but it’ll be tricky.
Friday the 11th of September looks like a washout again, with similar size swell (5ft to 5ft) but choppy cross-onshore winds wrecking the surface. After that, it dies right back down to flat, tiny leftovers through the weekend and into the following week.
Honestly, if you’re desperate for a wave, that Thursday morning, September 10th, is the best of a bad bunch. Bring a grovel board and keep your expectations low. The swell direction from the southwest is on, but the period is a short 5 seconds, so it'll be weak and crumbly. A 5 second period is pretty junky.
There’s no standout session here. This is one of those runs where the forecast is more about waiting than surfing. It’s a long quiet spell for Brighton.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue night, strong winds from the WSW by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | SW 9 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
511 | 1011 | 149 | 107 | 444 | 429 | 187 | 68 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 102 | 148 | 306 | 440 | 397 | 428 | 270 | 135 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:08AM5.68m | 1:29PM5.81m | 1:42AM5.75m | 2:02PM5.84m | 2:17AM5.72m | 2:37PM5.75m | 2:54AM5.57m | 3:16PM5.54m | 3:35AM5.30m | 3:58PM5.22m | 4:22AM4.94m | 4:49PM4.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:02PM0.44m | 7:17AM0.17m | 7:35PM0.34m | 7:50AM0.16m | 8:09PM0.36m | 8:24AM0.27m | 8:45PM0.48m | 9:02AM0.49m | 9:25PM0.71m | 9:45AM0.81m | 10:13PM1.02m | 10:38AM1.19m | 11:16PM1.34m | |||||||
— | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | — | SW 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 68 | 11 | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | WSW 9 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 7 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | SW 9 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 6 | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 |
511 | 1011 | 149 | 107 | 444 | 429 | 187 | — | — | 7 | 9 | 8 | 102 | 148 | 306 | 440 | 397 | 428 | 270 | 135 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 337 | 121 | 589 | 689 | 338 | 431 | 200 | 90 | 325 | 161 | 348 | 872 | 328 | 412 | 501 | 419 | 431 | 453 | 338 | 0 |
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.











