Surf Forecasts:
Eastbourne surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, SW swell with 566 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Eastbourne this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Eastbourne in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Eastbourne over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me tell ya what I see for Eastbourne. Right now, it's looking a bit grim. We're coming off the back of a flat spell, and the first recommendation for a surf doesn't pop up until the 31st of August. That’s a long dry stretch from now with nothing worth paddling out for at all.
From Sunday the 23rd right through to Saturday the 30th of August, it’s nothing but poor surf and onshore junk. Winds are howling from the east and then swinging strong from the south, with waves only creeping up to maybe 1 ft or 2 ft for most of it. The energy is microscopic, and the whole setup is just messy. Then around the 28th and 29th, things get a bit more interesting wave-wise – the swell actually builds to 5 ft, and even hits 8 ft on the Saturday afternoon, with moderate to strong wave energy (535). But the wind is still strong and cross-onshore, so the surface is going to be a washing machine. Honestly, for beach breaks around here, that's more of a kite situation than a paddle. The Friday afternoon does see the wind shift cross-off and it says clean, but the swell quality is still poor in the data.
Then we hit Monday the 31st of August. Finally, something to talk about. The swell drops back to 3 ft, coming from the west-southwest with a 7-second period – a bit short period but okay – and the best part: glassy conditions. The energy is moderate (130). Conditions are described as "surfable but very ordinary," which feels like we’re taking what we can get. It’s Eastbourne, a beginner spot, sometimes crowded, and it’s inconsistent by nature. For a sheltered spot, a 3 ft glassy wave is a morning worth looking at, but don't expect barrels.
Tuesday the 1st of September, a howling offshore wind from the northwest at 22 mph will clean it right up, but the swell drops to just 1 ft. The energy drops to 12, so it’s all form and no power.
After that, it goes totally flat again from the 2nd of September through to the 4th. We see zeros for swell, just windy ripples. A couple of days with nothing.
Then on the 5th and 6th of September, a tiny little 0.3 ft westerly groundswell with a 10-second period shows up, but with a strong breeze from the west.
So, to be honest, the standout is the morning of Monday the 31st of August. The combined swell energy sits at 130 (moderate), the wind is glassy, and the 3 ft of swell from west-southwest is your best chance at a clean, if small, session. It’s not big and you’ll need a longboard. But it's the one. After that, the outlook goes pretty blank again, which for this area is fairly normal. Forecasts can change, but right now it feels like a long wait for a little bump.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Sat night, fresh winds from the ENE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, near gales from the SSW by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 9 | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 4 | E 3 | SE 2 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 4 | — | ESE 4 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 2 | 5 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 35 | 143 | 117 | 539 | 397 | 535 | 321 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:17AM4.24m | 8:55PM4.41m | 9:37AM4.49m | 9:59PM4.73m | 10:29AM4.88m | 10:45PM5.13m | 11:10AM5.32m | 11:23PM5.53m | 11:45AM5.73m | 11:58PM5.90m | 12:18PM6.10m | 00:31AM6.21m | 12:51PM6.39m | 1:04AM6.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:25PM2.28m | 3:08AM2.09m | 3:40PM2.08m | 4:14AM1.77m | 4:38PM1.74m | 5:03AM1.37m | 5:24PM1.36m | 5:44AM0.98m | 6:03PM1.01m | 6:20AM0.65m | 6:39PM0.71m | 6:54AM0.40m | 7:13PM0.51m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 3 | 18 | 2 | 5 | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 9 | — | SW 10 | SW 9 | — | W 9 | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | ESE 4 | SW 5 | — | WSW 9 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — |
1 | 2 | — | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 52 | — | 8 | 117 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 5 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | E 5 | W 9 | — | W 8 | SW 9 | — | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 2 | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 4 | E 3 | SE 2 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | SW 5 | — | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 11 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 |
— | 1 | 5 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 43 | — | 35 | 143 | 4 | 539 | 397 | 535 | 321 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 233 | 287 | 326 | 658 | 157 | 345 | 245 | 366 | 377 | 233 | 389 | 300 | 366 | 383 | 160 | 115 | 339 | 160 | 422 | 168 | 366 |
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 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.











