
Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, E swell with 89 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here again. Let me break it down for you. We’ve got a long dry spell for Swanage coming up. The first real bit of surf doesn’t show up for nearly a week and a half, so if you’re keen, you’ll need to wait.
The water’s sitting at 66°F right now, which is a lot warmer than we’d normally see for this time of year – over three degrees above average. That’s very unusual, a real treat, but the ocean isn’t giving us anything else.
For the first week and a half, from now through Friday the 25th of July, it’s mostly dead. The swell is tiny, the energy readings are pathetic – most days showing single-digit or low double-digit combined energy, and the period is short and weak. The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, making things choppy and messy. Even the few moments of clean offshore wind come with no swell to speak of. It’s flat and frustrating.
Then, on Friday the 24th of July, something finally changes. The afternoon brings a pulse of SW swell at 6ft, with a period of 6 seconds and a combined energy of 219. That’s with a cross-offshore wind from the SW, which is clean. This is the best we’re going to get in the whole window. The swell direction is SW, which matches the optimum for Swanage, and the wind is offshore, so it’ll be clean. But the period is short, so it’ll be a bit soft and won’t have much push. It’s the standout, but it’s not a classic.
Saturday morning the 25th still has some leftover SW swell at 4ft, energy at 109, and still clean cross-off wind. After that, it drops away again into small, weak leftovers and fresh winds that make things lumpy. The following days are back to tiny swell and clean conditions but nothing with any power.
To be fair, this spot is a very sheltered setup and rarely breaks, so a blank run like this is more normal for the area. But that Friday afternoon, the 24th, is your best bet. If you’re a beginner, that 6ft might be a bit too much, but the clean conditions will help. It’s not a day for the big boards, but for a shortboard, it might just be the only fun window in the whole two weeks.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Mon night, light winds from the NE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mon 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 6 | SW 12 | ENE 6 | E 4 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | W 8 | E 5 | W 8 | SW 6 | ENE 3 | SW 5 | W 8 | ENE 4 | E 4 | ESE 4 | E 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 6 | 56 | 13 | 35 | 42 | 89 | 42 | 49 | 6 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 7:43PM1.51m | 8:13AM1.33m | 8:27PM1.60m | 8:59AM1.35m | 9:09PM1.64m | 9:43AM1.35m | 1:29PM1.02m | 9:51PM1.63m | 10:26AM1.31m | 2:18PM1.02m | 10:32PM1.58m | 11:09AM1.25m | 3:04PM1.01m | 11:13PM1.47m | 11:52AM1.19m | 3:47PM0.99m | 11:55PM1.33m | 12:38PM1.11m | |||
Low Tide | 3:51AM-0.14m | 4:09PM0.07m | 4:37AM-0.26m | 4:54PM0.05m | 5:21AM-0.32m | 5:38PM0.06m | 6:04AM-0.31m | 1:20PM1.01m | 6:47AM-0.22m | 1:58PM0.99m | 7:04PM0.22m | 7:28AM-0.08m | 2:39PM0.97m | 7:47PM0.33m | 8:10AM0.09m | ||||||
— | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | |
— | 9:15 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 | 9:08 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 24 |
Feels °C | 21 | 16 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 12 | E 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 7 | E 4 | E 5 | — | E 4 | — | — | E 4 | W 8 | W 10 |
— | — | 6 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | 9 | 1 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 7 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | — | — | W 8 | — | W 9 | W 10 |
— | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | W 8 | SW 5 | W 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 4 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 | — | — | ENE 3 | SW 2 | WSW 3 | ENE 4 | — | ESE 4 | E 5 |
173 | 213 | 112 | 56 | 13 | 35 | 42 | 89 | 42 | 49 | 98 | 25 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 4 | 17 | — | 6 | 11 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 248 | 192 | 186 | 209 | 209 | 217 | 190 | 250 | 479 | 179 | 115 | 217 | 899 | 496 | 574 | 491 | 330 | 398 | 307 | 340 | 340 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











