Surf Forecasts:
Roaches Reef surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, WSW swell with 293 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Roaches Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Roaches Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Roaches Reef in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Roaches Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s talk feet and Fahrenheit for this one. Staring down the same 16 days at Roaches Reef, and the story’s the same: there’s a golden window right at the very end, but the wait is long.
The first few days are pretty ordinary. Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th August, you’re looking at 2 to 4 ft WSW swell with short 6-7 second periods. Combined energy is low to moderate (34 to 115), and wind is cross-off or cross—not total junk, but the conditions are poor. Not worth suiting up.
Wednesday 19th sees the swell push to 5 to 5 ft, still short period, but the wind cranks to 18-21 mph cross-shore. Combined energy hits 197 to 239, but it’s lumpy and messy. Thursday 20th has a clean morning with a light cross-off breeze and 4 ft swell (194 energy), but the quality is still questionable. Friday 21st morning offers a glimmer: glassy conditions with only 2 ft of WSW swell (53 energy)—surfable, but just barely.
Then the real drought hits. From Saturday 22nd August through to Monday 1st September, swell drops to 1 ft or less. Combined energy is under 30 most days. There’s a brief spike on Wednesday 26th morning with 4 ft (185 energy) but light onshore wind makes it poor. This is a long, quiet stretch.
The break you want to circle is Sunday 30th August morning at Roaches Reef. Swell is a clean 5 ft from the WSW, 7-second period, with combined energy at 397 (moderate to strong). The wind is a light NW cross-off at 6 mph, making for glassy conditions. That’s the best session of the whole outlook. Water temp is a toasty 70°, a massive 9° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’ll feel like a summer soak. Afternoon gets onshore and messy, so get it early. Crowds are possible at this exposed reef, but with the flat spell preceding it, should be fine.
Monday 31st August ramps up with 5 to 6 ft swell and strong cross-wind plus thunderstorms—combined energy hits 476 to 650. That’s expert-only size and wind. Tuesday 1st September morning looks cleaner with 3 ft (211 energy) and a cross-off breeze, but it’s marginal at best.
Final word: Sunday 30th August morning is your standout. Everything else in the first fortnight is mostly small, weak, or blown out. There’s a real flat gap around 22nd to 26th August.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 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 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 7 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 30 | 42 | 54 | 107 | 78 | 76 | 94 | 113 | 293 | 203 | 113 | 106 | 39 | 33 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | off | cross | glassy | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:10AM9.04m | 10:23PM9.02m | 10:41AM8.59m | 10:55PM8.48m | 11:12AM8.06m | 11:28PM7.89m | 11:51AM7.51m | 00:13AM7.29m | 12:49PM7.00m | 1:23AM6.79m | 2:19PM6.75m | 2:58AM6.69m | 3:48PM7.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:04PM1.48m | 4:25AM1.75m | 4:35PM1.94m | 4:54AM2.27m | 5:08PM2.48m | 5:28AM2.83m | 5:52PM3.08m | 6:17AM3.42m | 7:01PM3.61m | 7:43AM3.84m | 8:36PM3.79m | 9:21AM3.79m | 10:00PM3.49m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 18 | — | W 7 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 16 | SW 16 | WSW 7 | SW 14 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | — |
| kJ | 30 | 6 | — | 107 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 203 | 8 | 106 | 39 | 33 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 6 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | ESE 3 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 8 |
| kJ | 4 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | SW 15 | — | — | — | SW 14 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 10 | 10 | — | 8 | — | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | — | W 7 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 42 | 54 | — | 78 | 76 | 94 | 113 | 293 | — | 113 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 423 | 359 | 412 | 144 | 319 | 229 | 308 | 319 | 277 | 46 | 229 | 0 | 10 | 188 | 69 | 17 | 49 | 186 | 341 | 187 | 83 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wales - Gower | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Roaches Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Roaches Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Roaches Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Roaches Reef 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 (Roaches Reef) 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 Roaches Reef 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.
Roaches Reef is 11 km (7 miles) from Swansea. If you plan a holiday in Wales - Gower, look for hotels and other accommodation in Swansea. Swansea has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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