Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, WSW swell with 185 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s be straight with you. It’s a tough stretch ahead for Swanage. The file shows a long, quiet run with nothing worth paddling out for. We’re looking at day after day of tiny, weak, and sloppy conditions. Winds are mostly cross-off or offshore, which is nice for a clean surface, but there’s barely a ripple to work with. You’ll be staring at a lake, not the ocean. Combined swell energy is next to nothing, with readings staying well under 100 for most of the period – we’re talking values like 3, 11, 34, 61, all in the weak category. This is a classic blank spell for this area, and it’s normal to have these dry runs.
For the first week, from the 15th right through to the 27th, it’s all flat. You might see a knee-high bump on the 16th and 17th, but with a period of 8 seconds or less and strong onshore wind, it’s junk. The only real highlight in the whole 16-day window is on the 28th of September, Monday afternoon. That morning looks messy with light rain and a building 8ft swell, but by the afternoon, it cleans right up. We get a solid 12ft swell from the southwest with a 9-second period and light offshore wind. Combined wave energy shoots up to 1699, which is strong to very strong. This is the only day that’s even remotely surfable, and it’s for experts only – that size is heavy and powerful. The break itself, Swanage, is very sheltered and rarely breaks, so this is a rare event if it lines up. The water temperature is a notable 4° warmer than normal for the time of year, which is very unusual.
The 29th and 30th drop back into poor, onshore, and weak surf. So, if you’ve got big wave gear and can wait until the 28th, it might just fire. For everyone else, keep the board in the car and look at the maps.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue night, strong winds from the WSW by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the N by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 6 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 2 | 9 | 54 | 91 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 40 | 17 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 5:54AM0.80m | 5:44PM0.85m | 1:19AM0.74m | 6:32AM0.85m | 6:08PM0.93m | 6:54AM0.92m | 6:27PM1.02m | |||||
Low Tide | 6:48PM0.23m | 7:04AM0.28m | 7:24PM0.36m | 7:39AM0.44m | 8:02PM0.48m | 8:16AM0.58m | 4:10PM0.78m | 8:46PM0.59m | 9:00AM0.68m | 3:49PM0.82m | 9:54PM0.66m | 10:25AM0.74m | 1:11AM0.59m | 1:19PM0.65m | 1:44AM0.45m | ||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:08 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | SW 10 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 4 | 54 | — | — | — | — | 40 | 17 | 34 | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | — | SW 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | 4 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | NNW 3 | WSW 11 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 25 | 34 | 35 | 2 | 91 | 31 | 218 | 150 | 58 | 43 | 63 | 162 | 83 | 134 | 69 | 27 | 10 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 320 | 339 | 137 | 32 | 246 | 340 | 488 | 320 | 185 | 323 | 246 | 323 | 302 | 246 | 224 | 137 | 196 | 108 | 108 | 108 | 108 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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