
Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, SW swell with 434 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for Swanage over the next couple of weeks. I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a grim run for surf. The swell window is barely cracking a whisper for most of this period, and when it does show a pulse, the wind and conditions just aren't playing ball.
Right off the bat, we’re looking at a long stretch of nothing. From now until around the 18th, it’s mostly flat or tiny, poor quality waves. The wind is a persistent problem, mostly a moderate to fresh breeze out of the west-southwest, often cross-offshore, which keeps the water clean but there's nothing to ride. The swell heights are mostly below 1 ft, and even when a little 2 ft pulse shows up on the 18th morning, the period is a short 5 seconds – that’s just slop. For days on end, the combined energy is either zero or in the weak range. There’s no escaping it: for paddle surfing, it’s a write-off.
Then we get to Saturday the 19th. This is the only real event in the whole outlook, but it comes with a massive catch. The swell bumps up to 7 ft from the southwest, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to a strong 434 – you’ll feel that. But here’s the thing: that size, with that short period and a strong breeze of 28 mph from the southwest (cross-off), is a mess. At 7 ft, that’s expert-only territory, and the wind will make it lumpy. Swanage is a very sheltered, rarely breaks spot, so to see it firing at that size is unusual, but the quality is still rated poor. Honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle session. Sunday the 20th morning has a tiny 1 ft groundswell (16-second period) and light offshore winds – clean, but too small to get excited about. After that, it’s back to flat, poor conditions right through to the end of the month. The last morning of the forecast, the 28th, has a cross-onshore wind and choppy water. Not one for the diary.
So, to sum it up: a week and a half of flatness, one day of big, ugly, onshore-charged surf for experts only, then back to nothing. Swanage isn’t a consistent spot at the best of times, so a blank run like this is more normal for the area. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board at home.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 17°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 11 | WSW 5 | WSW 10 | WSW 3 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 26 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 22 | 19 | 33 | 434 | 153 | 34 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:38AM1.48m | 9:49PM1.56m | 10:12AM1.46m | 10:24PM1.47m | 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 | |||||
Low Tide | 5:15AM-0.18m | 5:34PM0.04m | 5:52AM-0.05m | 6:11PM0.13m | 6:28AM0.11m | 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 | |||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | — | WSW 10 | — | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | — | — | WSW 9 | WSW 5 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | — | — | SW 6 |
11 | — | 9 | — | 27 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 13 | 11 | — | — | 17 | 22 | 19 | 33 | — | — | 34 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | — | — | — | W 19 | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 |
— | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 11 | 11 | — | — | — | 7 | 22 | — | — | — | — | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | W 5 | WNW 4 | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | SW 7 | SW 6 | — |
44 | 56 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 7 | 17 | 29 | 39 | 15 | 9 | 19 | 37 | 93 | 43 | — | 25 | 98 | 434 | 153 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 157 | 99 | 109 | 216 | 110 | 154 | 339 | 320 | 137 | 137 | 248 | 340 | 320 | 320 | 12 | 179 | 246 | 467 | 246 | 246 | 99 |
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.










