
Surf Forecasts:
Folkestone surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, NE swell with 35 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Folkestone this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Folkestone in the next 16 days are 0.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 7PM. 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 5s 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 | 7PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folkestone over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – we've got a long, quiet stretch ahead at Folkestone. Don't hold your breath for anything firing, but let's break down the next couple of weeks.
For the first ten days or so, it's pretty grim. From now through the end of July, we're looking at a whole lot of nothing. A few tiny bumps here and there on the 17th and 18th, but that swell is barely a ripple at 0.3 ft to 2 ft with short, weak periods. The wind is mostly cross or cross, and the wave energy is non-existent (combined energy of all swells directed here is just 1 to 13). There's a long stretch from the 19th to the 24th where it's flat, absolutely flat, with zeros across the board.
Finally, on the morning of the 30th of July, something shows up. We get a bit of a pulse from the SW pushing 6 ft, with a period of 6 seconds and combined energy of 199. It's not a classic groundswell, but with a light NNE breeze keeping it clean, you might find a surfable wave. This one is for the patient intermediate crew – it won't be pretty, but it beats staring at a flat ocean.
Overall, this is a tough run. Most of these days are write-offs. The 30th of July morning is about the only time I'd even bother checking the tide. If you've got kites, the afternoons with a fresh cross-shore and some chop might scratch an itch, but for a paddle surfer, this is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NE by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 | NNE 5 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 3 | NE 6 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 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 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 20 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | NE 6 |
3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 16 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | WSW 2 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | — |
8 | — | 2 | 10 | 34 | 32 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 7 | — | 1 | 8 | 53 | 46 | 38 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 683 | 915 | 468 | 471 | 471 | 471 | 471 | 477 | 88 | 342 | 291 | 342 | 417 | 479 | 367 | 717 | 436 | 418 | 441 | 471 |
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.










