Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, E swell with 169 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a bleak stretch ahead for the Swanage area. The swell window’s just not lining up, and we’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly a ripple worth paddling for.
The first glimmer of something that could be considered surfable won't arrive until Monday the 24th of August. Even then, it’s a sad story. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the ESE, but it’s being hammered by a fresh 19 mph onshore wind. That’s churned-up, slopey junk. The combined energy is a weak 62 (moderate wave energy), but don’t let that fool you – the quality is shot.
Monday afternoon actually pushes the swell up to 5ft from the E, with the energy climbing to 180 (moderate wave energy), but that 25 mph onshore wind is just going to turn it into a complete washing machine. That’s expert-only territory size-wise, but with the wind, it’s unsurfable.
The only real window of opportunity, and I’m using that term loosely, looks like it could be around Saturday the 29th of August. We’ve got a 6ft, 7-second swell from the WSW hitting the break, with a 16 mph offshore wind blowing from the WSW. That’s a clean face, and the combined energy reads 237 (moderate wave energy). The period is short, so it’ll be a bit burger-y, but for Swanage, that’s the best we’ll see. The swell is a bit too big for beginners, but intermediate to advanced surfers might find a few grovelly ones. It’s a very sheltered spot and rarely breaks, so don’t get your hopes up too high.
After that, things drop off a cliff again. The whole run into the first week of September is flat, with tiny 1.0ft to 2ft dribble and onshore winds. Honestly, with the consistent onshore wind and the poor quality, if you’re looking for a board to ride, consider a kite. The beach setup here would be more interesting for that than a surfboard for the next two weeks.
Don’t lose heart, though. Swanage is a fickle spot, and blank runs like this are normal. Forecasts can change.
Stay frothy,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, strong winds from the ENE by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 6 | SW 9 | WSW 6 | ENE 4 | SW 10 | W 10 | S 14 | S 14 | WSW 12 | ESE 5 | E 6 | SW 9 | SW 9 | ESE 5 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | SSW 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 7 | SW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 47 | 169 | 3 | 3 | 48 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 152 | 61 | 130 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:02PM0.89m | 5:56AM0.83m | 5:56PM0.96m | 6:31AM0.89m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:38AM0.65m | 11:44PM0.68m | 12:36PM0.69m | 1:41AM0.55m | 1:46PM0.58m | 2:17AM0.41m | 2:22PM0.48m | 2:47AM0.28m | 2:53PM0.38m | 3:15AM0.15m | 3:22PM0.30m | 3:44AM0.04m | 3:53PM0.23m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 10 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SW 9 | WSW 3 | WSW 5 | E 4 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 12 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | — | SW 7 | SW 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 6 | — | 152 | 61 | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | NE 4 | WSW 6 | W 10 | SW 10 | — | S 14 | — | — | — | S 12 | — | — | WSW 8 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 8 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 8 | S 15 | — | W 6 | — | S 14 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | WSW 6 | NNE 2 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 5 | E 6 | E 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | — | — | SW 7 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 4 | 14 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 47 | 169 | 378 | 150 | 48 | 8 | 55 | 158 | — | — | 130 | 68 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 155 | 108 | 154 | 154 | 271 | 186 | 230 | 227 | 170 | 378 | 220 | 226 | 280 | 297 | 234 | 371 | 110 | 47 | 100 | 570 | 196 |
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.
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