Surf Forecasts:
Flagpoles surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 10s period, ESE swell with 20 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Flagpoles this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Flagpoles in the next 16 days are 0.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Flagpoles over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let me tell you straight up, it’s been a tough stretch for surf around Flagpoles. Looking over the next couple of weeks, there simply isn’t a single session worth paddling out for. This is one of those rare blank runs where the ocean just hasn’t got the message.
From now until the end of the forecast period on Monday, 31st August, it’s pretty much all the same story. The swell is stubbornly small, and the direction mostly hangs in the ESE to SE. For a spot like Flagpoles that likes a nice NE pulse to get its act together, this is the wrong angle. The wave energy is weak across the board, with combined energy values mostly bouncing between a measly 7 and 37 (moderate wave energy). That’s not surf, that’s a lake.
There are a few brief moments where the wind lays off. You get some glassy conditions on the morning of Monday, 17th August, and again on Wednesday, 19th August, and Friday, 21st August. The water temperature sits at 87°F, which is about a degree and a half warmer than average – a nice warm bath, but useless without waves. Even when the wind goes offshore from the W or SW on the morning of Tuesday, 18th August, the swell is only 0.7ft. A clean ankle-snapper is still just an ankle-snapper.
Later on, around Thursday, 27th August and into the first few days of September, the period starts to stretch out a bit, hitting 12 seconds on the 27th. The energy ticks up slightly to around 37, but the swell stays under 1.0ft. You need some size to go with that longer period groundswell. With those long-period ESE swells, it would likely break too straight for a beach-and-reef setup like Flagpoles anyway, and there’s no height to work with.
The only real change comes on Sunday, 30th August, and Monday, 31st August, when the swell direction finally swings around to NNE and NE – right in the optimum window for this break. But the size is still laughable at 1.0ft to 2ft, and the energy barely reaches 24. The winds are clean and glassy on Monday morning, but you could surf that on a boogie board.
Honestly, if you’re desperate for water time, those cleaner moments with offshore or glass winds might be okay for a longboard or a SUP, but if you want a proper wave, you’re better off waiting. This is just how it goes here sometimes – a long, quiet stretch. Forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to get excited about.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 27°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SSE 4 | S 4 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:45PM0.88m | 12:20PM0.92m | 00:27AM0.82m | 1:10PM0.88m | 1:12AM0.77m | 2:01PM0.85m | 2:00AM0.72m | 2:58PM0.82m | 2:54AM0.70m | 3:58PM0.81m | 3:55AM0.69m | 4:56PM0.82m | 4:54AM0.70m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:39PM0.06m | 6:00AM0.01m | 6:32PM0.13m | 6:49AM0.05m | 7:27PM0.19m | 7:39AM0.09m | 8:22PM0.23m | 8:30AM0.12m | 9:16PM0.26m | 9:23AM0.13m | 10:10PM0.27m | 10:16AM0.14m | 11:03PM0.27m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 33 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 8 | S 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 3 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 3 | ENE 10 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 9 | E 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 10 | SSE 4 | E 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 8 | NE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | NE 10 | S 4 | ENE 9 | NE 6 | NE 8 | NE 6 | E 5 | E 8 | E 8 | — | ESE 3 | E 8 | E 13 |
| kJ | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SSE 5 | — | SE 3 | S 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | SE 2 | S 3 | S 3 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSW 3 | SE 3 | SE 3 | — | ESE 3 | SE 3 |
| kJ | 5 | 9 | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1724 | 1186 | 288 | 288 | 288 | 265 | 139 | 265 | 304 | 306 | 391 | 426 | 306 | 140 | 594 | 391 | 354 | 823 | 177 | 139 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Florida | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Flagpoles Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Flagpoles provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Flagpoles can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Flagpoles 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 (Flagpoles) 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 Flagpoles 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.
Flagpoles is 3 km (2 miles) from West Palm Beach. If you plan a vacation in South Florida, look for hotels and other accommodation in West Palm Beach. West Palm Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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