Surf Forecasts:
Folkestone surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 5s period, SW swell with 102 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Folkestone this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Folkestone in the next 16 days are 1.4m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folkestone over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Gutted, folks. I’ve stared at the charts for the next couple of weeks and, I’m not gonna lie, it’s a pretty grim picture for Folkestone. We’ve got a full 16-day window on the books, but there’s no true swell on the horizon, just windswell bumps and a lot of chop. The best I can say is that there are a few windows where the conditions might line up for a splash, but it’s all marginal.
We start off on the morning of Sunday the 16th with a tiny 1ft of short-period windswell out of the NE. The water’s already 70°, which is a huge 7° warmer than average for this time of year – really unusual stuff. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not completely messy, but there’s just nothing to push you along. That’s a big old zero from me, and it’s the same story through Monday and Tuesday – nothing but the lake out there, with some moderate cross-shore winds.
The first hint of anything comes Wednesday the 19th afternoon. The wind swings around to a strong SW and the swell bumps up to 5ft, but the period is a weak 5 seconds and the energy is only 102. It’s a messy cross-chop, and while the swell direction is from the SW which is the right direction for the spot, the quality is just poor. The wind is way too strong, blowing a solid 28 mph, and it’s going to be a washing machine. That one’s for the bodyboarders or maybe just a skip.
Thursday and Friday are all wind and no wave, with strong, clean offshore winds, but the surf is flat. That’s the frustrating part – it’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride. We get a little blip on Saturday the 22nd afternoon with 3ft of NE windswell, but the period is still tiny and it’s cross-shore. The energy is low at 36. Same story on Sunday the 23rd, a bit of size but still onshore and choppy, 3-4ft from the NE.
Monday the 24th morning, the wind dies completely. The water goes glassy, and I mean proper glassy. But, of course, there’s zero swell. It’s like the ocean is holding its breath. That’s the tease.
The rest of that week goes flat again, just small cross-shore bumps. We do see a small SW groundswell around Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th, with 3ft and 3ft swells with a slightly better 6-second period. The energy picks up to 37 and 54, which is something, but the winds are onshore or cross, so it won’t be clean. On Saturday morning the 29th, it’s cross-shore with a 3ft SW swell. It’s the most promising looking bump on the whole chart, but if you’re a beginner, it’s still on the bigger side of small and the chop will be there. It’s not a standout, just the least bad option.
Right, so bottom line: there is nothing that’s a true standout. The 23rd and 24th have the most size but the period is too short and the winds are wrong. The water is unbelievably warm for August, so at least you won’t be cold. But for waves, you’re better off saving your wax for another week. This is a proper drought.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 4 | W 8 | NE 4 | W 7 | NE 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 6 | WSW 3 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | ENE 3 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 66 | 65 | 0 | 102 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:23PM7.05m | 2:44AM6.74m | 3:03PM6.77m | 3:24AM6.39m | 3:43PM6.36m | 4:05AM5.95m | 4:25PM5.88m | 4:49AM5.48m | 5:13PM5.38m | 5:43AM5.02m | 6:15PM4.94m | 6:56AM4.70m | 7:36PM4.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:30PM0.11m | 9:45AM0.40m | 10:06PM0.47m | 10:19AM0.77m | 10:40PM0.91m | 10:53AM1.20m | 11:14PM1.36m | 11:28AM1.62m | 11:52PM1.80m | 12:10PM2.02m | 00:41AM2.17m | 1:07PM2.35m | 1:55AM2.40m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | N 5 | SW 6 | NE 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | — | SW 6 | SW 6 | NNE 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 16 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | NE 4 | W 7 | N 6 | W 7 | — | N 7 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | SW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 5 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 6 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | NNE 2 | NE 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | WNW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 4 | SW 5 | N 3 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 3 |
| kJ | 5 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 66 | 65 | 16 | 102 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 268 | 738 | 497 | 555 | 712 | 436 | 414 | 947 | 32 | 391 | 526 | 281 | 403 | 655 | 364 | 176 | 471 | 181 | 181 | 471 | 140 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Folkestone Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Folkestone provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Folkestone can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Folkestone 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 (Folkestone) 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 Folkestone 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.
Folkestone is 1 km (1 miles) from Folkestone. If you plan a holiday in South Coast of England, look for hotels and other accommodation in Folkestone. Folkestone has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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