Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, WSW swell with 47 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 0.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, mate, it’s a grim run for Swanage. The whole 16-day window is a write-off – there’s not a single session I’d paddle out for. We’ve got a massive dry spell right through from today, and it doesn’t break until the very end. The water’s sitting at 69°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year (an anomaly of 7°), so if you’re just having a swim, it’s lovely – but for surfing, it’s a total bust.
The first few days, forget it. Wednesday the 12th through to Sunday the 17th, we’re lucky to scrape together a few ankle-biters. The swell is mostly from the east with periods of 4 to 5 seconds – that’s short-period wind slop pushing in at best 3 ft. Combined wave energy is down at 44 on Wednesday morning, and by Thursday it drops to 24. The wind isn’t doing us any favours either: mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping the surface ragged. Thursday afternoon the 13th does see a clean cross-offshore breeze with a tiny 1 ft swell from the west-southwest, but there’s no energy, only 38, and it’s not worth the walk.
Friday the 14th through to Sunday the 23rd stays flat. We get the odd pulse – Monday the 24th afternoon shows a bit of life: a 3 ft west-southwest swell with a period of 7 seconds and combined energy of 76, with fresh offshore wind. That’s the cleanest combo we see, but it’s still tiny. Even that one’s only for a small-wave log, and with the break being very sheltered and rarely breaking anyway, you’d be lucky to find a wave that stands up.
For the rest of the run into late August, it’s pretty consistent in its nothingness. The 27th has a 0.7 ft west-southwest swell with a 10-second period and moderate offshore wind, but energy is just 15. The break is inconsistent at the best of times, so a blank stretch like this is normal for the area.
If you’re dead keen, the cleanest options are Monday afternoon the 24th and maybe Tuesday morning the 25th with light offshore wind and a 1 ft swell, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. For kite surfing, there’s more cross-onshore wind than wave power, so it’s not exciting for that either.
Hang in there – forecasts can change, but right now, Swanage is a glass-off for swimming, not surfing.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 4 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | N 4 | WSW 7 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | W 8 | N 3 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:14PM1.59m | 8:47AM1.36m | 8:54PM1.65m | 9:26AM1.39m | 9:33PM1.65m | 10:05AM1.39m | 10:12PM1.60m | 10:42AM1.36m | 10:49PM1.49m | 11:18AM1.30m | 11:26PM1.35m | 11:55AM1.22m | 00:03AM1.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:19AM-0.30m | 4:36PM0.02m | 5:01AM-0.34m | 5:17PM0.03m | 5:41AM-0.29m | 5:57PM0.08m | 6:20AM-0.18m | 6:37PM0.16m | 6:58AM-0.01m | 7:17PM0.28m | 7:35AM0.17m | 7:56PM0.40m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 27 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 5 | — | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 8 | E 4 | WSW 4 | E 4 | E 4 | W 7 | WSW 5 | — | — |
| kJ | 10 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 24 | 6 | — | 15 | 8 | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | E 4 | ESE 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 9 | — | SW 8 | — | — | WSW 8 | E 5 | W 8 | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | W 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 8 | — | 3 | — | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | — | — | W 5 | WSW 4 | N 3 | N 4 | WSW 7 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | — | SW 3 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 5 |
| kJ | 13 | 10 | 10 | — | — | 7 | 24 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 11 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 18 | 61 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 108 | 109 | 137 | 318 | 137 | 155 | 108 | 155 | 343 | 337 | 252 | 160 | 250 | 570 | 572 | 253 | 207 | 194 | 345 | 345 |
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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