Swanage Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s talk about Swanage. I’ve had a good look at what’s coming our way, and honestly, for the next two and a half weeks, it’s pretty flat out there. We’re looking at a real drought of surf, with nothing worth paddling out for from now right through to the 26th of July. That’s a solid block of time where the ocean is just not cooperating.

The first chance to even think about a wave comes on Saturday the 11th of July, but it’s grim. We’ve got a weak 3 ft swell from the east with a short period of 6 seconds – that’s just wind chop. And the wind is howling onshore out of the ENE at 16 mph, turning the whole thing into a mess. The combined energy is a pathetic 63, so it’s barely moving. Even the afternoon is worse with smaller, choppier surf. Don't bother.

Sunday the 12th is even more of a joke. Sunday morning sees the swell drop to 0.3 ft, and by afternoon we get a bit more height at 4 ft, but with onshore winds up to 19 mph, it’s just blown-out junk. The energy might hit 106, but with that wind, it’s unsurfable.

The whole of next week, from Monday the 13th through to Friday the 17th of July, is a write-off. The swell all but disappears, with most sessions showing zero energy or tiny amounts like 0.3 ft. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or strong, making for lumpy, choppy conditions. The one bright spot is Thursday the 16th morning, where we get a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW and a clean surface, but the swell is only 1 ft. You’d be on a longboard just bumping over nothing.

The second week, from the 18th of July onward, is more of the same. The swell depths barely register, with most days showing 0.3 ft to 2 ft at best. The winds do turn favourable though – we get some clean, offshore conditions on the 18th afternoon, and then a stretch from the 21st to the 24th with moderate to fresh offshore breezes. The surf is still tiny, but if you absolutely had to get wet, the mornings of the 21st or 22nd might offer a clean, knee-high dribble. The energy is almost non-existent, mostly single-digit numbers.

Bottom line: Swanage is not a spot that fires often, and this forecast proves it. There are no standouts. No big swell. No good surf. It’s a classic blank run for the area. If the swell stays this small and the wind stays onshore at the wrong times, the setup looks more interesting for a paddle on a SUP than a proper surf. We’ll have to wait for a change.

Rusty.

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