Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, SW swell with 1,498 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 3.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the stretch ahead for Swanage. Honestly, it's a rough one. This is a spot that's "very sheltered" and "rarely breaks," and this forecast is really testing that. The water is sitting at a very warm 69°F, a huge 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year, which is a real oddity, but unfortunately, it doesn’t make the waves any better.
We’re looking at a long gap with no real surf to speak of. From today, Wednesday the 26th, right through the end of August and into the start of September, it's mostly flat or tiny, weak dribble. The little bumps we do get, like that 0.7ft to 2ft of swell, are from short-period windswell or just cross-offshore breezes cleaning up a completely flat surface. The combined energy is in the low double digits, basically nothing.
That big pulse of swell comes in on Friday the 28th of August, around 8ft from the southwest, and it stays chunky through the weekend, hitting 10ft on the Saturday. The combined energy is strong, hitting 817 on Saturday afternoon. But here’s the kicker: the wind is howling. Strong breeze and near-gale force cross-offshore winds. That kind of power on a very sheltered break like Swanage is just going to be a messy, blown-out whitewash. No bueno for a paddle surfer. Honestly, with those wind strengths and the swell size, that setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than proper wave riding.
Monday the 31st of August is probably the best we get, but it's still not a recommendation. Morning sees a fresh offshore wind from the west with a 6ft southwest swell (500 energy). It'll be clean, but the period is a short 8 seconds, meaning it's windswell, not groundswell. It’s likely to be a bit lumpy and walled up. By afternoon the wind goes cross-off and drops a bit.
After that, we’re back into another dry spell. A small bump shows up on the 4th of September with some offshore wind and a 6ft swell, but again, it's short period windswell with heavy winds. Then the 5th of September brings a cleaner 2ft to 2ft WSW groundswell with an 11-second period and gentle breezes, which is a tease, but the combined energy is weak at 87 to 111. The rest of the second week just fizzles out into flatness again.
So, what’s the best on offer? It’s grim. The absolute standout, if you can call it that, is the Monday 31st of August morning session. It’s the only time you get a clean, offshore wind on a 6-foot-plus swell. But don't get your hopes up; it's a one-session wonder in a long, bleak forecast. There's nothing else that comes close.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Wed morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 8 | W 9 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | W 8 | SW 7 | WSW 5 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 2 | 20 | 38 | 1 | 47 | 0 | 352 | 220 | 563 | 1048 | 905 | 327 | 143 | 664 | 444 | 370 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 7:55PM1.37m | 8:21AM1.22m | 8:22PM1.46m | 8:47AM1.30m | 8:50PM1.53m | 9:15AM1.38m | 9:20PM1.59m | 9:45AM1.43m | 9:52PM1.60m | 10:18AM1.46m | 10:27PM1.58m | 10:52AM1.45m | 11:04PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:22PM0.30m | 3:44AM0.04m | 3:53PM0.23m | 4:14AM-0.05m | 4:25PM0.18m | 4:46AM-0.10m | 4:59PM0.16m | 5:20AM-0.11m | 5:35PM0.16m | 5:55AM-0.07m | 6:13PM0.18m | 6:33AM0.01m | 6:53PM0.24m | ||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 9 | — | — | — | WSW 9 | — | — | WSW 5 |
3 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 143 | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | — | SW 4 | SW 6 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 |
6 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 7 | WSW 5 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | — |
— | 1 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 47 | 87 | 352 | 220 | 563 | 1048 | 905 | 327 | 106 | 664 | 444 | 370 | 49 | 42 | 183 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 217 | 348 | 356 | 115 | 246 | 227 | 386 | 184 | 196 | 613 | 246 | 227 | 100 | 251 | 302 | 80 | 101 | 32 | 458 | 246 | 47 |
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.











