Surf Forecasts:
Folkestone surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, WSW swell with 171 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Folkestone this week:
The surf forecast for Folkestone over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Folkestone in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folkestone over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, this stretch is looking pretty quiet. We’ve got a long run of small, weak, or messy conditions, and for most of the period there’s nothing that’s really going to get the heart pumping. The water is sitting at 70°F with a 7°F anomaly – that’s much warmer than usual for this time of year, which is a nice little bonus if you’re in the water, but it won’t do much for the waves.
The first real flicker of hope shows up around the morning of Friday the 28th of August. Folkestone (Kent) will see a SW swell pushing 5ft with a period of 6 seconds, and a fresh cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 19 mph. The combined swell energy is only moderate at 114, so it’s not a thumper, but it’s clean and rideable. The afternoon gets a bit lumpier with a cross-shore wind and a 5ft SSW swell, so the morning is the pick there.
The standout actually lands on the morning of Saturday the 29th of August. We’ve got a clean 7ft SW swell with a fresh offshore wind from the NW at 19 mph. The combined energy jumps to 396 – that’s getting into strong territory. The period is 6 seconds, so it’s a short-period swell, but with offshore winds and that size, it’s going to offer some punchy, clean waves. That’s the one to pencil in for the more experienced crew – at 7ft, it’s not for beginners.
After that, it drops right off again. The Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st go flat and messy, with nothing worth chasing. Into early September, we get a few tiny, clean days with offshore winds on the 1st and 2nd, but the swell is tiny – around 3ft to 4ft with very weak energy. It’s clean but small. The last few days of the outlook are barely a ripple.
Honestly, if you’re keen, the Saturday morning of the 29th of August is your best bet. It’s the only real standout in the whole run. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or just plain flat.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Thu morning, calm by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue night, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 6 | NNE 6 | W 6 | W 10 | W 9 | NNE 7 | E 3 | E 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 2 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | WSW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 106 | 171 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 52 | 52 | 60 | 46 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 2 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 5:13PM5.38m | 5:43AM5.02m | 6:15PM4.94m | 6:56AM4.70m | 7:36PM4.72m | 8:18AM4.65m | 8:52PM4.78m | 9:26AM4.87m | 9:52PM5.05m | 10:18AM5.23m | 10:39PM5.42m | 11:01AM5.67m | 11:19PM5.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:28AM1.62m | 11:52PM1.80m | 12:10PM2.02m | 00:41AM2.17m | 1:07PM2.35m | 1:55AM2.40m | 2:47PM2.47m | 3:47AM2.31m | 4:27PM2.20m | 4:58AM1.93m | 5:25PM1.75m | 5:46AM1.46m | 6:07PM1.26m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | — | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 6 | — | W 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | — | — | NE 6 | S 3 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 3 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 34 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 36 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | NE 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | NNE 5 | WSW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NE 5 | — | — | — | E 3 | E 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 2 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — |
| kJ | 65 | 106 | 171 | 28 | 21 | 22 | 28 | 13 | — | — | — | 5 | 25 | 52 | 52 | 60 | 46 | 1 | 11 | 5 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 471 | 436 | 0 | 365 | 268 | 319 | 319 | 433 | 181 | 181 | 462 | 291 | 668 | 415 | 518 | 462 | 460 | 194 | 385 | 378 | 246 |
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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