Surf Forecasts:
Eastbourne surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, WSW swell with 326 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Eastbourne this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Eastbourne in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Eastbourne over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for a paddle.
Right from the start, there's no surf to speak of for the first several days. From Tuesday the 18th of August all the way through to the early hours of Friday the 21st, we’re looking at a big fat zero on the energy scale. Just wind and chop, nothing worth suiting up for.
Finally, on the morning of Friday the 21st, a tiny pulse shows up at Eastbourne. We’re talking a weak 1ft swell from the WSW with a short period of 6 seconds, and combined energy is a meagre 16. It’s a beginner spot anyway, and it’s inconsistent at the best of times. The wind is cross-shore from the NE, so it’s not completely blown out, but honestly, it’s not going to be much fun. That little bump fades fast, and by the afternoon it’s down to 7 energy. The rest of that weekend and into the next week is a write-off – tiny waves, onshore winds, and energy readings barely hitting double digits.
The whole stretch from the 22nd of August right through to the 29th is basically flat. You’re looking at wave heights under 2ft most days, with energy often below 10. There’s a bit of a spike on Friday the 28th afternoon – 4ft from the SSW, but it's got a nasty 28 mph cross-onshore wind from the SSW, making it a complete mess. That’s kite-surfing conditions, not for a paddle board.
The first glimmer of something real comes on Monday the 31st of August. The morning shows a 6ft swell from the WSW with a period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 266 – that’s moderate energy, finally. The wind is light and cross-shore from the SW. Still, for a sheltered, inconsistent beginner break like Eastbourne, 6ft is getting a bit much for the learners, and the short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy. The afternoon drops to 4ft and 100 energy. The next day, Tuesday the 1st of September, sees a similar 6ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, with energy up to 341. But the wind is onshore from the SSE and ESE, so it’s going to be choppy and tough. Honestly, it’s still not great.
The one standout in this whole bleak outlook is the morning of Monday the 31st of August. The 6ft swell with that moderate energy (266) and a light cross-shore wind is the closest we get to a decent session. Even then, it’s not a classic – the period is short, and Eastbourne is a sheltered spot that needs a good swell direction to really work. For a confident surfer, it might offer a few fun ones, but don't expect perfection.
So, there you have it. A long, flat spell with a couple of brief, mediocre pulses. We’ll see if the forecasts change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | SW 6 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 3 | WSW 4 | W 8 | SW 3 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:57AM5.55m | 4:17PM5.44m | 4:37AM5.08m | 5:00PM4.98m | 5:26AM4.64m | 5:55PM4.57m | 6:36AM4.30m | 7:20PM4.33m | 8:17AM4.24m | 8:55PM4.41m | 9:37AM4.49m | 9:59PM4.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:07PM1.07m | 10:23AM1.23m | 10:48PM1.45m | 11:05AM1.64m | 11:35PM1.82m | 11:58AM2.01m | 00:35AM2.10m | 1:05PM2.25m | 1:50AM2.22m | 2:25PM2.28m | 3:08AM2.09m | 3:40PM2.08m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | WSW 3 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | W 5 | — | W 9 | WSW 4 | — | W 8 | — |
— | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | 104 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | — | WSW 6 | W 8 | — | W 10 | W 9 | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | — | WSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | — | NNE 3 | — | — | NNE 3 | — | ESE 3 | — | SW 3 | W 3 | — | SW 3 | — |
128 | — | 53 | 23 | 62 | 86 | 183 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 366 | 99 | 315 | 366 | 99 | 362 | 362 | 8 | 198 | 198 | 364 | 272 | 432 | 233 | 233 | 493 | 287 | 330 | 669 | 410 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Eastbourne Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Eastbourne provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Eastbourne can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Eastbourne 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 (Eastbourne) 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 Eastbourne 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.
Eastbourne is 11 km (7 miles) from Hailsham. If you plan a holiday in South Coast of England, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hailsham. Hailsham has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











