
Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, E swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Right, let’s be straight with you – this is a tough one for the Swanage area looking ahead over the next 16 days. The first time we see any kind of wave is Friday morning, July 17, but it’s a tiny 0.3 ft from the SW with a period of just 6 seconds, and the combined energy is a measly 3, so there’s really nothing to get excited about. In fact, the whole outlook is a bit of a flat spell. There’s a long gap of several days where the surf is just not worth paddling out for, and the only real standout might be a brief pulse on Sunday morning, July 19, when the swell nudges up to 3 ft from the ENE, but it’s coming with a cross-onshore wind at 16 mph and choppy conditions, so it’s more of a messy option than a clean one. The water temperature here is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.
The best on offer, if you’re desperate, is probably that Sunday morning, July 19, at Swanage. It’s a small 3 ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore at 16 mph, making it choppy. The break is very sheltered and rarely breaks, so you’re really rolling the dice. The crowds are sometimes a factor, but on a day like this, they probably won’t be an issue. The combined energy is only 45, so it’s weak. For a beginner, it’s small enough, but the quality is poor. Honestly, for the rest of the period, it’s a lot of flat spells and tiny, poor surf. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on the days with stronger wind, like Friday afternoon, July 17, with a 16 mph cross-off wind, but there’s no wave height to speak of.
The second week from about July 24 onward is just as quiet, with only tiny pulses – a 2 ft from the W on Sunday morning, July 26, and a 2 ft from the E on Thursday morning, July 30, but the energy is still low, and the winds are a mix of clean and cross-off. Nothing to plan a trip around. It’s a dry run, but for an area like Swanage that’s famously sheltered, this blank run is more normal than unusual. Keep an eye on the forecasts, though – it tends not to stay poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 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 8 | W 8 | WSW 4 | ENE 4 | W 7 | E 4 | ENE 5 | E 5 | W 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 8 | E 5 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | N 3 | W 9 | W 3 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 45 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:26AM1.31m | 2:18PM1.02m | 10:32PM1.58m | 11:09AM1.25m | 3:04PM1.01m | 11:13PM1.47m | 11:52AM1.19m | 3:47PM0.99m | 11:55PM1.33m | 12:38PM1.11m | 4:25PM0.97m | 00:38AM1.16m | 1:33PM1.03m | 1:32AM1.00m | 3:13PM0.98m | 3:19AM0.88m | 5:00PM1.00m | ||||
Low Tide | 6:04AM-0.31m | 1:20PM1.01m | 6:47AM-0.22m | 1:58PM0.99m | 7:04PM0.22m | 7:28AM-0.08m | 2:39PM0.97m | 7:47PM0.33m | 8:10AM0.09m | 3:23PM0.96m | 8:32PM0.44m | 8:52AM0.27m | 4:19PM0.95m | 9:22PM0.55m | 9:39AM0.44m | 10:34PM0.63m | 10:52AM0.57m | 00:41AM0.60m | |||
5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 21 | 17 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | E 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | E 4 | — | — | E 5 | E 4 | W 9 | ESE 4 | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — | — | WSW 4 | E 3 | E 4 | — |
7 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 11 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | W 8 | — | SW 5 | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 9 | — | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | — |
2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | W 7 | — | W 12 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | W 10 | — | — | — | W 9 | — |
1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 3 | W 4 | ENE 4 | — | E 4 | ENE 5 | — | — | ENE 3 | — | — | E 5 | — | WSW 2 | — | SW 4 | NE 2 | N 3 | — | W 3 |
— | 7 | 9 | 5 | — | 15 | 45 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | — | 13 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 479 | 903 | 548 | 491 | 491 | 184 | 271 | 592 | 330 | 272 | 570 | 327 | 217 | 679 | 324 | 801 | 801 | 136 | 313 | 484 | 344 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Swanage Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Swanage provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Swanage can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Swanage 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 (Swanage) 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 Swanage 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.
Swanage is 13 km (8 miles) from the city of Poole. If you plan a holiday in South Coast of England, look for hotels and other accommodation in Poole. Poole has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










