Swanage Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming our way for Swanage over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak run for a while. We’re starting off with nothing rideable on Thursday the 27th of August, with only tiny dribbles at 0.3 ft from the west and a short 8-second period. The combined energy is barely registering at just 1. Water temps around 69°, which is *much warmer* than normal for this time of year – about 7° above average, so that's a real oddity. Friday the 28th afternoon throws up a stormy 7 ft from the WSW, but it’s short-period windswell at 6 seconds and howling cross-off winds at 30 mph. The energy jumps to 357, but it’s messy, not surfable. Saturday the 29th afternoon gets even uglier – a chunky 12 ft from the SW, 8-second period, but a near-gale wind at 31 mph makes it a washing machine. That kind of energy (1265) and those winds mean this is strictly for the kite crew, not paddlers.

There’s a real gap here until we see something that looks like a wave you’d actually want to sit on. Sunday the 30th morning has a tiny 2 ft, but energy is weak at 75 and it’s still cross-off.

Finally, a glimmer. Monday the 31st of August morning is our first real standout. We’ve got a clean 6 ft swell from the WSW with a 7-second period, and here’s the big one – it’s got offshore wind at 19 mph from the west. That fresh offshore is going to groom this up nicely. The combined energy is a solid 326, giving it some grunt. For Swanage, this is the best in the window by a mile. But don't sleep on it – this spot is listed as *rarely breaks*, so when it lines up like this, you get out there. It’s also a sheltered spot, so that 6 ft is a nice size for most, but it might be a bit much for absolute beginners. Crowds can be *sometimes* a factor, so expect a few others with the same idea.

The following days drop off fast. Tuesday the 1st of September has ankle-biters, and later in the week (Thursday the 3rd) we see a 6 ft from the SW on the afternoon, but at 6 seconds and cross-off winds at 22 mph, it’ll be bumpy and uninviting. Energy is 237 but the quality isn’t there.

The second week is mostly flat. Monday the 7th of September morning is glassy – zero surf, but dead calm. That’s a skunk session, not a surf. We do get another small window Friday the 11th of September morning: 5 ft from an unusual east direction, period of 6 seconds, and a moderate offshore wind from the west. The combined energy is 134. It’s something to look at, but it’s a long way out and the east swell direction isn't what Swanage is best set up for – it prefers that SW. That one’s promising but not a lock.

So, to sum it up: the one to circle is Monday the 31st of August morning. That’s your real chance for a proper clean session with swell and offshore wind. The rest is either flat, blown out, or too small to bother with. It’s a tough stretch, but that Monday might just save the whole period.

Rusty.

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