Surf Forecasts:
Southerndown surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, W swell with 161 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Southerndown this week:
The surf forecast for Southerndown over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Southerndown in the next 16 days are 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Southerndown over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, this is Rusty. Let's be honest, looking at the next 16 days for Southerndown, it's a bit of a heartbreaker. There's no real standout session to circle on the calendar. We're staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell with a whole lot of small, messy, wind-affected slop.
The first real bit of energy we see is around Tuesday the 18th, with the swell pushing 4 ft from the W, but the wind is a messy cross-on from the WNW at 12 mph. The combined energy is a moderate 159, but it's not enough to overcome the conditions. The water is an incredible 69°, which is a massive 8° warmer than normal for this time of year – that's genuinely unusual, so you might not need a thick wetsuit, but you won't need much board either.
The whole first week is a write-off. From Friday the 14th right through to Friday the 21st, it's a story of small, weak swells under 3 ft, and constant cross-onshore winds. The only real glimmer in that first week is a brief window on Saturday morning the 15th when a light N wind cleans things up, but the swell is a tiny 1 ft from the WSW with only 8 seconds of period (22 energy). You'd be scratching for any kind of ride.
We get a bit of a pulse on the 19th with 5 ft from the WSW, but it's hammered by a fresh 19 mph W wind, making it lumpy and choppy. The energy is a moderate 182, but it's not surfable for most. That kind of wind and chop is more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers.
The second week isn't much better. The 22nd and 23rd of August see some offshore and glassy conditions from the ENE, but the swell is practically non-existent – 0.3 ft to 1.0 ft. It's clean, but there's simply no wave to ride, even if the period on the 23rd is a very long 14 seconds. That's a groundswell that would be best at a point or reef, but there's no energy behind it.
The closest we get to a "recommendation" is Tuesday afternoon, the 25th of August. The swell is 3 ft from the WSW (8 seconds, 105 energy) and the wind is a light cross-off, leaving the surface clean. It's surfable, but "ordinary" is the word.
So, the honest truth is there's nothing to get excited about for the next two weeks. The forecasts can change, and Southerndown is fairly consistent, so it might not stay this poor for long. But for now, leave the board in the van and watch the horizon.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue night, fresh winds from the W by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 5 | WSW 6 | W 5 | W 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 6 | WSW 5 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 19 | 18 | 11 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 29 | 9 | 51 | 56 | 33 | 51 | 84 | 130 | 152 | 155 | 90 | 56 | 35 | 13 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 8:51AM9.10m | 9:10PM9.36m | 9:30AM8.88m | 9:48PM8.99m | 10:07AM8.48m | 10:25PM8.43m | 10:44AM7.95m | 11:03PM7.76m | 11:22AM7.34m | 11:42PM7.06m | 12:04PM6.72m | 00:30AM6.40m | 1:00PM6.16m | 1:39AM5.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:55PM0.16m | 3:19AM0.19m | 3:32PM0.39m | 3:54AM0.55m | 4:07PM0.80m | 4:29AM1.07m | 4:44PM1.34m | 5:05AM1.67m | 5:23PM1.95m | 5:45AM2.30m | 6:09PM2.56m | 6:37AM2.88m | 7:14PM3.08m | ||||||||
5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | W 8 | WSW 7 | — | — | WSW 6 | SW 16 | — | SW 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | W 5 |
20 | 19 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 33 | 11 | — | 10 | 4 | 4 | 90 | 56 | 7 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | W 9 | — | W 7 | — | — | W 17 | — | — | W 16 | — | — | SW 14 | — | W 13 | WSW 9 |
— | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 9 | — | — | 6 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 8 | — | 3 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 4 | — | — | WSW 7 | W 5 | — | W 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | — | W 6 | WSW 5 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 6 | — | — | W 6 | — |
— | 3 | — | — | 18 | 4 | — | 29 | 9 | 51 | 56 | — | 51 | 84 | 130 | 152 | 155 | — | — | 35 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 492 | 239 | 196 | 195 | 454 | 255 | 347 | 306 | 306 | 347 | 401 | 263 | 353 | 353 | 409 | 353 | 306 | 6 | 23 | 196 | 56 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wales - South East | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Southerndown Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Southerndown provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Southerndown can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Southerndown 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 (Southerndown) 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 Southerndown 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Wales - South East? If you are looking for accommodation near Southerndown, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Wales - South East, consider staying in Porthcawl which is 6 km (4 miles) away. Other places in and around Wales - South East where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Nash Point which is 8 km (5 miles) away, Coity, Maesteg and Barry.











