Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, SW swell with 525 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got the lowdown on Swanage for the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you: for the first few days, there’s practically nothing doing. It’s a flat spell, so you’re looking at a gap of about four or five days where you’re better off cleaning the wax off your board or going for a paddle.
The first hint of anything worthwhile doesn’t show up until Thursday, August 27th. That morning, the swell suddenly jumps up to 12 feet from the southwest, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy hits 1475, which is serious—strong wave energy. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW, so the morning will be clean. That’s a lot of water moving, though. With a swell over 8 feet, this is for experienced surfers only. By the afternoon, the wind picks up and the quality drops off, so it’s a short window.
After that, Friday, August 28th has some decent offshore winds from the WNW at 16 mph in the morning, with a 8-foot swell from the SSE. The period is a bit short at 6 seconds, so the waves will be a bit lumpy, but the offshore wind will tidy it up. The afternoon is cleaner with a 8-foot swell from the SSW and a 9-second period, but the wind is stronger, making it a bit of a battle.
The real standout, the one that’s got me a little excited, is actually Monday, September 1st. The morning is glassy clean with a light offshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph, and the swell is a very manageable 1 feet from the WSW. The period is 8 seconds. It’s tiny, but the conditions are perfect. For a mellow, longboard session with no crowds, that’s your best bet.
Tuesday, September 2nd afternoon looks surfable, with a 5-foot swell from the southwest and a 9-second period, and gentle cross-offshore winds. The combined energy is 363 (moderate), and it’s described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions". It’s a solid option if you’re desperate.
The last week of the forecast is a mixed bag. There’s a long-period swell on Thursday, September 3rd morning with a 4-foot swell from the WSW and a 12-second period (groundswell), but it’s blown out by a fresh breeze. The wave energy is high (860), but the wind is a killer. The following days are mostly poor with onshore or cross-shore winds.
So, to sum it up: the morning of August 27th is your big-wave, experts-only call. The morning of September 1st is your clean, small-wave, everyone-can-have-fun call. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, strong winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Tue night, strong winds from the S by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 4 | WSW 10 | W 10 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | WSW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | E 6 | E 5 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 4 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 7 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 49 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 72 | 28 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 154 | 7 | 311 | 169 | 155 | 525 | 307 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 8:47AM1.30m | 8:50PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:14AM-0.05m | 4:25PM0.18m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 14 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 5 | E 4 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 14 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | ESE 4 | SSW 8 | SW 4 | SW 7 | SE 5 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — |
3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 267 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WSW 10 | W 5 | S 14 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 11 | SW 8 | — | S 4 | W 8 | ESE 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 10 | — | 5 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 8 | — | W 9 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | — | — | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | — | S 3 | — | SE 6 | SW 6 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 7 | WSW 8 |
8 | — | — | 11 | 16 | 49 | 264 | 356 | 218 | 72 | 28 | — | 5 | — | 154 | 159 | 311 | 169 | 155 | 525 | 307 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 154 | 228 | 186 | 234 | 186 | 186 | 505 | 572 | 226 | 226 | 219 | 137 | 217 | 137 | 12 | 186 | 227 | 248 | 166 | 55 | 185 |
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.











