Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, SW swell with 1,462 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period with WSW 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 3.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what Swanage has got cookin’.
Honestly, it’s a pretty bleak run for the next couple of weeks. The swell window’s just not lining up, and when there is a bit of energy, the wind’s got other ideas. There’s a gap of several days with nothing worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a long, dry spell.
Wednesday the 26th kicks off with barely a whisper – we’re talkin’ 0.7ft of weak, short-period junk. Not worth gettin’ the wetsuit wet for. That carries on through Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th; the swell stays tiny and messy.
Now, Saturday the 29th sees a spike in size, with 7ft to 8ft of SW swell rockin’ in. The combined swell energy is ramped right up to 427 and then 641 (strong to very strong) – there’s definitely power behind it. But the wind is howlin’ at 28 mph from the SSW. That’s gonna put a nasty chop on it. For a beginner, that 8ft is way too much. For an expert, the wind’s just gonna ruin any chance of a good wave. The main event here would be a kite surfer’s dream, not a paddle surfer’s.
Sunday the 30th drops back to 5ft with a cleaner cross-off wind, but the energy is down to 327 (moderate). It’s a “poor surf conditions” call, so you’d be fightin’ a losing battle.
Monday the 31st finally offers a glimmer. In the afternoon, we’ve got 5ft of WSW swell with a clean offshore wind from the W. The combined energy sits at 381 (moderate). That gets a “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” rating. It’s the least awful of the bunch, but it’s nothin’ to write home about.
After that, it’s back into the wilderness. Tuesday 1st September, Wednesday 2nd, all the way through to Wednesday 9th – it’s a desert of tiny surf or flat water. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothin’ unusual there to report. Swanage is “very sheltered” and “rarely breaks” for a reason – you need the stars to align, and they just aren’t for this 16-day window.
Honestly, this is one of those times where you take a long look at the forecast and go do somethin’ else. It tends not to stay this poor forever, but right now, the forecast is a tough read.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed morning, strong winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 8 | E 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | W 8 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 547 | 277 | 556 | 817 | 989 | 472 | 143 | 513 | 500 | 378 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:55PM1.37m | 8:21AM1.22m | 8:22PM1.46m | 8:47AM1.30m | 8:50PM1.53m | 9:15AM1.38m | 9:20PM1.59m | 9:45AM1.43m | 9:52PM1.60m | 10:18AM1.46m | 10:27PM1.58m | 10:52AM1.45m | 11:04PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:22PM0.30m | 3:44AM0.04m | 3:53PM0.23m | 4:14AM-0.05m | 4:25PM0.18m | 4:46AM-0.10m | 4:59PM0.16m | 5:20AM-0.11m | 5:35PM0.16m | 5:55AM-0.07m | 6:13PM0.18m | 6:33AM0.01m | 6:53PM0.24m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | SW 7 | SW 4 | — | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | WSW 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 472 | 143 | — | — | — | 33 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SW 4 | SW 7 | SW 6 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | W 8 | W 8 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 5 | SW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 27 | 115 | 547 | 277 | 556 | 817 | 989 | 290 | 92 | 513 | 500 | 378 | 25 | 23 | 160 | 64 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 186 | 306 | 570 | 356 | 253 | 246 | 441 | 418 | 184 | 567 | 380 | 179 | 188 | 183 | 792 | 227 | 179 | 55 | 246 | 356 | 178 |
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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