Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, E swell with 146 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this is a tough one. The whole 16-day window for the Swanage area is a bit of a write-off, if I’m being honest. There’s really nothing worth paddling out for. The combined swell energy barely gets a pulse, and when it does, the wind is usually wrong or the swell is just too tiny to do anything with. We’ve got a long stretch of flat or near-flat conditions, with only a few moments where the ocean looks remotely rideable, but none of them hit the mark for a good surf.
The first real sniff of any energy comes on Tuesday the 11th of August, with a short-period, onshore wind swell pushing to about 4 ft, but the wind is howling straight onshore at 18 mph. That’s just messy, blown-out slop. Combined energy only gets to 79, which is weak. Not a chance.
Wednesday the 12th is more of the same—4 ft again, but still onshore and choppy. Energy nudges up to 97, but it’s still a weak, wind-affected mess.
Then on Thursday the 13th of August, we get a bit of a window. The morning sees a 1 ft swell from the SW with a light cross-offshore breeze—clean, but tiny. The afternoon is the best of a bad bunch: a 3 ft swell from the WSW with a moderate offshore wind at 15 mph. Combined energy hits 84, and the offshore wind makes it look clean. But honestly, 3 ft is barely a knee-high ripple. It’s the only moment that might be worth a look if you’re desperate, but it’s not a standout by any stretch.
The rest of the period is a ghost town. Swells drop to 0.7 ft or less, and the combined energy is mostly in the single digits. We’ve got long gaps of several days—like from the 15th right through the 22nd—where there’s literally nothing on offer. The water temperature is 69°F, which is a whopping 7° warmer than normal for this time of year—very unusual. But it’s wasted on a flat ocean.
Swanage itself is rarely breaks and is very sheltered, so this kind of blank run is pretty normal for the area. There’s nothing here for beginners or experts. If you’re a kite surfer, you might find some fun on the 11th or 12th with that onshore wind, but for paddle surfing, it’s a hard no.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Tue night, light winds from the NNW by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | WSW 3 | W 6 | W 8 | SE 4 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | E 5 | E 5 | W 12 | E 6 | ESE 5 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 43 | 75 | 3 | 91 | 42 | 17 | 20 | 84 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:40AM0.98m | 4:46PM1.10m | 5:27AM1.02m | 5:56PM1.21m | 6:32AM1.12m | 6:47PM1.35m | 7:21AM1.22m | 7:32PM1.48m | 8:05AM1.30m | 8:14PM1.59m | 8:47AM1.36m | 8:54PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:08PM0.53m | 11:44AM0.48m | 00:49AM0.41m | 1:16PM0.40m | 1:58AM0.20m | 2:18PM0.27m | 2:50AM-0.02m | 3:08PM0.15m | 3:36AM-0.19m | 3:53PM0.06m | 4:19AM-0.30m | 4:36PM0.02m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 28 | 29 | 21 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WSW 3 | — | W 8 | W 7 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 11 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 9 | SW 7 | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 12 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | E 4 | SW 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | — | — | ESE 2 | SE 4 | — | WSW 3 | NNW 3 | NE 3 | — | E 2 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 5 | — | NNW 2 | WSW 9 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 3 | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 43 | 75 | 259 | 91 | 42 | — | 1 | 84 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 386 | 318 | 280 | 250 | 250 | 594 | 318 | 250 | 244 | 250 | 250 | 441 | 318 | 170 | 155 | 108 | 155 | 137 | 318 | 108 |
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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