
Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, WSW swell with 56 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright guys, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down. Truth is, we’ve got a long, flat 16-day stretch coming up, and there just isn’t much to get excited about.
It starts on Saturday, September 12th. Swanage has a measly 2ft swell out of the WSW, but it’s weak – combined energy is only 89 – and that 8-second period means no power. A 15 mph cross-off wind keeps the surface tidy, but the waves are so small and weak you’d be fighting for a 2-foot closeout. Water temp is pretty standard for this time of year.
Sunday the 13th? Dead flat. Zero. Even with a clean offshore wind, there’s nothing to surf. Monday the 14th brings back a tiny 0.7ft to 2ft, but the energy is in the single digits or low forties. These are tiny wind slop waves with short periods. No push, no power.
The middle of the week from the 17th to the 20th offers some morning offshore winds, but the swell still doesn’t show up – 0.3ft here, 0.7ft there, with combined energy barely hitting 20. On the 20th, we get a 17-second period on a 0.3ft wave. That’s a tease of a groundswell with zero height behind it.
September 21st throws in a 3ft wave from the ENE, but with only a 4-second period, it’s just messy wind chop. Cross-shore wind at 12 mph chops it up even more. Unsurfable.
From the 22nd on, it’s back to 0.3ft with combined energy of 4 or less. A glassy calm day on the 23rd with no swell. Then the final week is constant 0.3ft waves with cross-onshore or onshore winds blowing 9 to 18 mph, chopping up any chance of a clean wave. The 26th sees a brief offshore window, but it’s still just 0.3ft.
Look, Swanage is ‘rarely breaks’ anyway, and the exposure is very sheltered. A flat spell like this is more normal than not. If you absolutely must get wet, the morning of September 20th with that 0.7ft wave and a light offshore might give you a couple of ankle-biters. But don’t call it a surf.
There is no standout here. Not a single one. The forecast can always change, but as it stands, this is a long stretch of flat.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 13°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 | W 15 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | SW 11 | SW 10 | W 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
56 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 9 | 41 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 27 | 23 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 34 | 6 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 9:04AM1.46m | 9:12PM1.60m | 9:38AM1.48m | 9:49PM1.56m | 10:12AM1.46m | 10:24PM1.47m | 10:45AM1.39m | 10:59PM1.34m | 11:17AM1.29m | 11:32PM1.20m | 11:49AM1.17m | 00:04AM1.05m | 5:03AM0.75m | 5:04PM0.78m | 00:36AM0.89m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:37AM-0.26m | 4:55PM0.00m | 5:15AM-0.18m | 5:34PM0.04m | 5:52AM-0.05m | 6:11PM0.13m | 6:28AM0.11m | 6:48PM0.23m | 7:04AM0.28m | 7:24PM0.36m | 7:39AM0.44m | 8:02PM0.48m | 8:16AM0.58m | 4:10PM0.78m | 8:46PM0.59m | ||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
— | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 15 | — | — | — | SW 5 | WSW 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | SW 11 | SW 10 | W 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | — | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 13 | SW 12 |
33 | 4 | — | — | — | 22 | 9 | 41 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 27 | 23 | 10 | — | 22 | 6 | 17 | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | SW 12 | WSW 11 | — | — | W 10 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | W 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 11 | — | — | 2 | 7 | 34 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | WNW 5 | N 3 | WNW 3 | W 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | NNW 3 | — | WSW 3 | WSW 3 |
56 | 66 | 61 | 80 | 74 | 23 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 72 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 223 | 226 | 223 | 178 | 100 | 23 | 216 | 108 | 133 | 194 | 320 | 137 | 137 | 224 | 246 | 320 | 318 | 155 | 137 | 110 | 196 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 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.










