
Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, E swell with 59 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let me tell you straight – the Swanage surf forecast for the next two weeks is a total bust. There's not a single recommendation in the whole 16 days, and every reading says "poor surf conditions." It's a rough one for the locals.
The first bit of anything that could be called a wave shows up on Thursday afternoon, the 16th, with a tiny 2ft swell out of the East. But it's got a short period of just 5 seconds and a cross-on wind from the SE at 12 mph. The water is a warm 66°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 6°F above average, which is very unusual. But the weak combined energy of just 20 (weak) and the choppy conditions mean it's not worth getting wet.
The rest of the outlook is just as grim. A few tiny pulses of 0.3ft to 0.7ft swell pop up here and there, but they're all tied to short periods (4 to 8 seconds) and hardly any energy – most readings are single-digit numbers in the combined energy column. The best wind conditions we see are some glassy and offshore windows, particularly on Monday morning the 20th (glass with 0.3ft from the west at 12 seconds) and a few offshore days later in the month, but with basically no swell to work with, it's just flat. The break is "rarely breaks" according to the guidance, and that's exactly what we're getting.
This is a blank run for the area. Swanage is a very sheltered spot, and when the swell is this absent, there's just nothing to ride. It's a beach break setup, but with these tiny waves and strong winds on some days (like the 30th with 18-22 mph offshore winds), it might look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The long gap of no surf recommendations stretches from the 16th all the way through to the 31st. For a spot that rarely breaks, this kind of extended flat spell is more normal than unusual. Forecasts can change, but right now, there's nothing to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 5 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 4 | ENE 4 | W 7 | E 4 | E 5 | W 8 | W 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 3 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 4:25PM0.97m | 00:38AM1.16m | 1:33PM1.03m | 1:32AM1.00m | 3:13PM0.98m | 3:19AM0.88m | |||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:23PM0.96m | 8:32PM0.44m | 8:52AM0.27m | 4:19PM0.95m | 9:22PM0.55m | 9:39AM0.44m | 10:34PM0.63m | |||
— | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | |
— | 9:13 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | E 5 | ESE 4 | E 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | ESE 4 | — | W 7 | E 4 | ESE 3 | E 4 | E 4 | — | E 5 | E 4 | WSW 2 | E 4 | — | WSW 4 |
3 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | W 8 | — | W 8 | SW 5 | — | — | W 8 | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 11 | W 11 | — | — | W 10 | W 10 |
1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | W 8 | — | W 7 | — | — | — | W 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | — | W 10 |
— | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | — | — | SW 3 | W 4 | ENE 4 | — | E 4 | E 5 | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | SW 3 | N 3 |
16 | — | — | 2 | 10 | 7 | — | 14 | 33 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 378 | 479 | 479 | 1605 | 548 | 590 | 491 | 324 | 491 | 250 | 313 | 330 | 491 | 170 | 217 | 250 | 340 | 344 | 440 | 375 |
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.










