Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, WSW swell with 450 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The surf forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about Swanage. I’ll be straight with you: the next 16 days are a tough watch for surfers. There’s a massive gap from now until the last week of August, and even then, the conditions are a real battle. The first surf worth mentioning doesn’t kick off until Saturday 29th August morning, and before that, it’s just flat, choppy, or blown out. The entire period after that is patchy, with long gaps of nothing.
The water temperature is sitting at 69°F, which is a massive 7° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so you’ll be in boardies or a shorty for sure.
The first real action comes on Saturday 29th August. The morning brings a clean, offshore wind from the W at 18 mph, with swell from the WSW at 6 ft, but the period is a short 6 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (280). This is a bit punchy and short-period, so it’ll be dumpy and fat. It’s doable for stronger paddlers, but beginners might find 6 ft too much. The afternoon picks up to 7 ft with the same short period, but the wind becomes cross-offshore from the WSW at 22 mph, keeping it clean but a bit lumpy. The energy is strong (330). This is the best of a poor run, but it’s not a standout.
Sunday 30th has nothing solid. Monday 31st August morning has a clean 4 ft swell from the SW with an 8-second period, and a strong offshore wind from the WSW at 28 mph. The energy is moderate (256). The waves will be clean, but that wind is strong, making paddling out a mission. The afternoon is similar with a 5 ft SW swell, 9-second period, and a 25 mph offshore wind. Energy is strong (330). It’s clean but a real grunt to get into.
Tuesday 1st September drops off to 2 ft with a 9-second period in the afternoon. The wind is offshore from the W at 15 mph, giving clean waves. Energy is moderate (174). It’s small but tidy.
Then there’s a big gap of flatness from 2nd September through to 4th September. The next thing is Saturday 5th September morning. A 7 ft swell from the SW with a 6-second period, cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 15 mph, and strong energy (402). That’s big and short-period – messy, fat, and only for experienced surfers. The afternoon kicks up to 8 ft from the SW with a 7-second period, a cross-offshore wind from the SW at 28 mph, and very strong energy (556). This is heavy, wind-affected, and strictly for experts. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Sunday 6th September is flat and glassy in the afternoon, with a tiny 0.3 ft, 17-second period swell. The wind is calm. It’s a beautiful day for a swim, not a surf.
The last few days, 7th September, see a small 1 ft to 1 ft, very long-period groundswell (15-16 seconds) from the SW, but the wind is onshore from the ESE at 15-18 mph. The energy is weak (61-74). The long period will make the waves weak and straight-breaking on a beach setup. Not worth it.
Honestly, the best on offer is Saturday 29th August morning, but it’s a blunt, short-period swell with a strong offshore wind. Nothing here is a true standout. It’s a bleak run for Swanage.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon morning, light winds from the S by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Thu night, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | WSW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | E 6 | E 5 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 4 | ESE 4 | W 8 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 29 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 75 | 46 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 57 | 231 | 75 | 0 | 356 | 280 | 330 | 172 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:30PM1.05m | 7:00AM0.97m | 7:00PM1.16m | 7:28AM1.05m | 7:28PM1.26m | 7:55AM1.13m | 7:55PM1.37m | 8:21AM1.22m | 8:22PM1.46m | 8:47AM1.30m | 8:50PM1.53m | 9:15AM1.38m | 9:20PM1.59m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:17AM0.41m | 2:22PM0.48m | 2:47AM0.28m | 2:53PM0.38m | 3:15AM0.15m | 3:22PM0.30m | 3:44AM0.04m | 3:53PM0.23m | 4:14AM-0.05m | 4:25PM0.18m | 4:46AM-0.10m | 4:59PM0.16m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
8:13 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | ESE 4 | SSW 8 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SE 4 | SW 5 | SW 9 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 49 | 186 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 11 | SW 8 | E 4 | SW 7 | SW 7 | W 8 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 9 | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | — | SW 4 | — | ESE 4 | SW 5 | — | SW 9 | — | SW 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 |
6 | 29 | 239 | 345 | 309 | 75 | 46 | — | 6 | — | 10 | 41 | — | 231 | — | 39 | 356 | 280 | 330 | 172 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 209 | 186 | 570 | 201 | 226 | 217 | 246 | 170 | 186 | 186 | 248 | 110 | 100 | 69 | 61 | 179 | 0 | 323 | 227 | 2 |
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.











