Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, W swell with 60 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 0.6m 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let's have a look at what's on offer for us here in Swanage. I've gotta be straight with you – and I hate saying this – the outlook over the next couple of weeks is about as flat as a millpond. We’ve got a long stretch of next to nothing coming up, so don't get your hopes up for any kind of proper session for a while.
The water’s sitting pretty warm, about 69°, and that's a solid 7° warmer than what we’d usually see this time of year, which is very unusual. It feels more like a bath than the English Channel right now.
Right from Thursday the 13th of August, it's grim. We've got a tiny 1 ft swell pushing in from the SW, with a short period of just 9 seconds and weak energy (30). The wind’s a cross-on from the ESE at 9 mph, so it’s choppy and messy. It doesn't get any better. Friday the 14th sees a small 2 ft pulse, but it’s from the west and the combined energy is still weak (41), and while the wind is offshore, there’s just no muscle behind it. Saturday and Sunday are the same story – knee-high slop at best.
From Monday the 17th right through to the end of the month, it’s mostly flat, with energy readings dropping to zero for days on end. You'll see occasional tiny bumps of 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft, but the period is short and the wind is usually onshore or cross-shore, making it look more like a washing machine than a wave. The end of the month, around the 26th to the 28th, kicks up a bit of a breeze from the NE, hitting 25 mph at times, but that just makes for a messy, lumpy sea state with no decent swell underneath.
Honestly, there isn't a single standout session in this whole 16-day window. The setup we've got, with these small, weak swells and often messy winds, looks a lot more interesting for a kite surfer than anyone with a paddle. For us, it’s a case of watching the tide come in and go out, and hoping the long-range charts change their mind. It tends not to stay this poor for long, but for now, it’s a blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Sun morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 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) | SW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WSW 4 | N 4 | WSW 7 | NNE 3 | WSW 8 | SW 8 | W 3 | WSW 5 | WSW 3 | W 7 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | W 8 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | 38 | 24 | 8 | 41 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 12:32PM1.11m | 00:41AM1.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:12AM0.36m | 8:37PM0.52m | ||||||||
5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | |
— | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 23 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 6 | W 9 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 4 | WSW 8 | SW 8 | W 3 | WNW 3 | — | W 7 | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — |
21 | 38 | 24 | 7 | 41 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | ESE 4 | — | WSW 9 | — | WSW 8 | SW 8 | — | WSW 8 | — | — | W 7 | WSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | 3 | — | 8 | — | 7 | 2 | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | — | N 3 | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | — | — | — | WSW 4 | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | NNE 3 | SW 2 | NNW 2 | — | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 |
9 | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 9 | 15 | 16 | 164 | 54 | 42 | 98 | 41 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 137 | 318 | 137 | 155 | 318 | 178 | 583 | 340 | 222 | 217 | 572 | 458 | 592 | 344 | 345 | 446 | 235 | 12 | 320 | 320 | 458 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Coast of England | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











