Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, WSW swell with 64 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you on this one. The next 16 days are looking like a real struggle for surf around Swanage. The first week is mostly flat, and while there’s a spike of energy in the second week, the conditions just won't line up for a good session.
Looking at the whole picture, the water temp is sitting at 68°F, which is about 7° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s very unusual – the ocean is feeling more like a warm bath than the English Channel.
The first decent bit of swell arrives on Monday 4 August. We're looking at a 5ft swell from the SW with a short period of only 6 seconds, delivering moderate wave energy (204). But here's the kicker – the guidance says this break *rarely breaks*, and it's very sheltered, needing a SW wind and swell to work. The wind that morning is cross-offshore from SSW at 16 mph, so it's clean, but that short period means it's going to be weak and mushy. Not exactly firing.
The real standout, if you can call it that, happens on Friday 8 August. The morning shows a 7ft SW swell, period 8 seconds, and strong energy (559). That's a solid size – definitely expert territory for the day. The wind is cross-off from WNW at 12 mph, keeping it rideable. But it's still a beach setup with short period swell, so it'll be dumping a bit and closing out. Crowds are *sometimes* a problem here, so you might have some company, but it's your best chance to get a wave with some push.
Honestly, for a spot that rarely breaks and is this sheltered, this stretch of surf is a bust. We've got a huge gap of flat or tiny, poor surf from now until 4 August. You're looking at 9 days with nothing worth paddling out for. After that August 8 spike, it flatlines again. For the area, this kind of blank run is pretty normal. The setup here looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing when the swell is over 7ft and the winds are cross-off.
Stay patient, keep checking the cams, and don't waste the petrol.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue night, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 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) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | SW 4 | WSW 5 | W 10 | ESE 4 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | W 7 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 54 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 7:06PM1.19m | 7:30AM1.05m | 7:41PM1.27m | 8:05AM1.11m | 8:13PM1.36m | 8:37AM1.17m | 8:43PM1.43m | 9:08AM1.21m | 9:13PM1.49m | 9:38AM1.25m | 9:43PM1.53m | 10:09AM1.29m | 10:14PM1.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:42PM0.43m | 3:10AM0.26m | 3:17PM0.36m | 3:42AM0.16m | 3:49PM0.30m | 4:13AM0.07m | 4:20PM0.26m | 4:44AM0.00m | 4:52PM0.24m | 5:16AM-0.05m | 5:25PM0.23m | 5:48AM-0.06m | 6:00PM0.25m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | |
 | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | SW 4 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | W 7 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 54 | 8 | — | 11 | 2 | 1 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 6 | 5 | — | 7 | — | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | NW 3 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 100 | 84 | 45 | 22 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 16 | 20 | 67 | 37 | 11 | 40 | 2 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 808 | 814 | 137 | 319 | 320 | 121 | 108 | 224 | 186 | 217 | 537 | 333 | 320 | 320 | 12 | 271 | 578 | 238 | 250 | 345 | 353 |
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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