Surf Forecasts:
Southbourne surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 6s period, WSW swell with 288 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Southbourne this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Southbourne in the next 16 days are 1.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Southbourne over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Southbourne over the next couple of weeks.
First off, I gotta be straight with you: the next 16 days are a real struggle. There’s a bare, empty patch from the start until the 12th of August. We’re talking over a week of nothing but tiny, crummy waves. The water is sitting at 71°, which is much warmer than we’d expect for this time of year – a real anomaly that’s nice for a dip, but not much else.
Let’s run through the few moments that might get your heart beating. On the 11th, there’s a whisper of a pulse. On the 12th of August, we finally see a tiny bit of hope on the Wednesday morning. Swell from the ESE at 3 feet, but with a short period of 5 seconds and a cross-shore wind, it’s poor. The combined energy is a measly 45, so that’s weak. The 14th of August has a Friday morning with a clean 1 feet of SW groundswell (8 second period), but it’s so small it’s barely a ripple.
The only real standout in this whole bleak picture is the 17th of August. Monday morning, Southbourne gets a bump from the SW at 5 feet, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 235. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so it won’t be a total mess. That 5 feet is right on the edge for beginners – it’s gonna be a bit much for the newbies. Then Monday afternoon, the wind picks up to a fresh cross-onshore at 30 km/h, making it lumpy. The 18th of August has a Tuesday morning with moderate rain and a 4 foot SW swell, but that fresh cross-onshore wind will ruin it. The Tuesday afternoon, however, offers a clean window with a 4 foot WSW groundswell (10 second period) and a strong cross-offshore breeze. That’s a decent amount of energy (226) and clean conditions, but it’s a short window.
Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, the 17th morning is the only real shout. Everything else is a lot of wind and not much wave. The 18th afternoon might clean up, but it’s a gamble. For the rest of the time, you’re better off looking at the tide pools.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the E by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | SW 6 | W 6 | W 9 | SW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | W 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 84 | 97 | 118 | 284 | 117 | 39 | 31 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:28PM1.02m | 00:20AM1.32m | 1:01PM1.20m | 1:11AM1.20m | 2:03PM1.12m | 2:24AM1.06m | 3:48PM1.09m | 4:28AM1.00m | 5:23PM1.14m | 5:56AM1.05m | 6:16PM1.24m | 6:51AM1.13m | 7:02PM1.35m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:20PM0.33m | 8:40AM0.14m | 3:53PM0.99m | 9:09PM0.41m | 9:31AM0.28m | 4:52PM1.01m | 10:10PM0.47m | 10:38AM0.40m | 11:38PM0.48m | 12:14PM0.44m | 1:11AM0.34m | 1:38PM0.34m | 2:16AM0.13m | 8:55AM1.06m | 2:37PM0.21m | 3:07AM-0.09m | ||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — |
 | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 19 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 18 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | SW 6 | W 6 | — | SW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | W 4 | WSW 4 | E 4 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | SW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | — | W 6 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 4 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | N 3 | NNE 3 | SW 2 | — |
| kJ | 84 | 97 | 118 | 284 | 117 | 39 | 31 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 261 | 336 | 772 | 261 | 50 | 336 | 352 | 122 | 325 | 371 | 357 | 334 | 263 | 195 | 601 | 360 | 285 | 265 | 345 | 340 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Southbourne Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Southbourne provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Southbourne can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Southbourne 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 (Southbourne) 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 Southbourne 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.
Southbourne is 2 km (1 miles) from the city of Christchurch. If you plan a holiday in South Coast of England, look for hotels and other accommodation in Christchurch. Christchurch has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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