Surf Forecasts:
Folkestone surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 4s period, NE swell with 29 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Folkestone this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Folkestone in the next 16 days are 0.8m 4s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folkestone over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next 16 days at Folkestone are a proper drought. The guidance is clear – there’s just no good surf on the cards. It’s a rare, quiet stretch for this spot, and looks like we’re in for a long, flat wait.
Folkestone itself is a sheltered beach and reef setup, and it’s inconsistent at the best of times, so a blank run like this isn’t totally out of the ordinary. The water is sitting at 66°F which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a full 6°F above the average – so if you’re just keen for a dip, the ocean’s lovely, but for a wave, forget it.
We start off on Friday, July 17th, with nothing. Saturday and Sunday, the 18th and 19th, are flat as a pancake, with fresh cross-shore breezes kicking up chop. Monday the 20th through to Wednesday the 22nd... same story. The swell window is just closed. Thursday the 23rd gives us a tiny pulse of 2 ft from the NE (with a short, weak 5-second period and combined energy of just 18), but it’s cross-shore and messy – not worth paddling for.
The following week, from July 24th right through to August 1st, is a write-off. There’s the odd sign of life – a 3 ft pulse from the NE on the 26th, and a 4 ft reading on the afternoon of the 31st – but every single one is hit by strong, messy cross-shore wind, making it lumpy and unrideable. The wind is brutal, mostly from the SW, gusting 25 mph or more. For a beach and reef like Folkestone, that’s just ugly. To be honest, with that much wind and those small, choppy waves, it looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.
To sum it up: there’s no standout window, no hidden gem. The forecasts are poor right through. It’s a long, dry 16 days, mate. Sometimes you just have to take the L and wait for the next system.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NE by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | NNE 5 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 3 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 3 | ENE 3 | NNE 6 | SSW 3 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 9 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:03PM7.01m | 2:26AM6.78m | 2:48PM6.84m | 3:13AM6.51m | 3:34PM6.56m | 3:59AM6.16m | 4:21PM6.19m | 4:48AM5.77m | 5:12PM5.78m | 5:42AM5.39m | 6:09PM5.40m | 6:44AM5.10m | 7:14PM5.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:19PM0.02m | 9:37AM0.22m | 10:01PM0.21m | 10:18AM0.51m | 10:41PM0.53m | 10:58AM0.87m | 11:21PM0.93m | 11:37AM1.27m | 00:02AM1.34m | 12:17PM1.65m | 00:45AM1.73m | 1:04PM1.99m | 1:38AM2.03m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 4:58 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 18 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NNE 6 | SSW 3 | — | — | NNE 6 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 3 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 3 | — | — | NNE 6 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | — |
| kJ | 12 | 10 | — | 5 | 12 | 31 | 31 | 17 | 25 | 10 | 9 | 25 | 9 | 4 | — | — | 4 | 14 | 19 | 18 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 683 | 1939 | 531 | 471 | 471 | 471 | 471 | 477 | 140 | 342 | 750 | 342 | 433 | 479 | 305 | 391 | 471 | 342 | 342 | 770 | 181 |
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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