Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, E swell with 200 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s be real with each other. I’ve looked at the charts for our stretch of coast, and honestly, it’s a tale of two weeks. The first week and a half is a total write-off. We’re looking at ankle-biters and knee-high slop for days. It’s going to be a long, flat spell, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. There’s a lot of nothing on offer, with only the tiniest pulses of energy that just won’t have any push.
Friday the 8th kicks things off with just 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft of weak, short-period stuff. The wind is a bit messy, and the swell is coming from the west, which is not what we want. It’s really just a case of finding a sandbar that’s doing something, but you’ll be walking on water more than surfing. The energy is tiny, sitting at only 2 to 7 on the combined scale. That’s about as weak as it gets.
The weekend follows suit, with similar knee-high dribble. Saturday the 9th has a little more west in the swell but it’s still tiny. Sunday the 10th is much the same story. We get a bit of a bump mid-week around Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th, with the swell picking up to 3 ft to 4 ft, but it’s coming from the east with a short, crumbly period of 5 to 6 seconds. That’s windswell, pure and simple, and it’s going to be blown-out and messy. The energy does climb to a moderate 127 on Wednesday, but with the onshore wind and that short period, it’s just going to be a close-out, white-water mess. Not worth the paddle.
We get a little respite from the 14th to the 17th, but the swell is back down to 1 ft or less. The winds do go offshore or cross-offshore for some clean sessions, but there’s just no wave to ride. It’s glassy, it’s pretty, but it’s flat. You’ll be staring at a mirror out there.
Then, we finally see something. On Friday the 21st of August, the charts show a pulse of west-southwest swell at 4 ft with an 8-second period. The combined energy jumps to 201, which is the first time we see any real power in two weeks. The wind is forecast to be offshore from the west-northwest, which is solid. This is the one window where the setup at Swanage looks like it might actually offer a wave. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the only time in the whole 16 days where the conditions line up to be surfable. The water is also still running much warmer than normal for this time of year, about 7° above average, which is a real bonus after that long flat spell.
Beyond that, the swell fades straight back out. The long-range stuff looks like it’s teasing us, but it drops right off into nothing again. So, if you’re desperate, circle Friday the 21st. It’s the only real hope in the window, and even then, it’s a modest one. Keep the faith, but maybe plan for a surf trip elsewhere.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Tue night, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | W 10 | WSW 4 | W 6 | W 8 | SE 3 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | E 5 | E 5 | W 13 | E 6 | E 5 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | WSW 3 | SW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 51 | 3 | 114 | 66 | 17 | 20 | 0 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:59PM1.07m | 3:40AM0.98m | 4:46PM1.10m | 5:27AM1.02m | 5:56PM1.21m | 6:32AM1.12m | 6:47PM1.35m | 7:21AM1.22m | 7:32PM1.48m | 8:05AM1.30m | 8:14PM1.59m | 8:47AM1.36m | 8:54PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:07AM0.43m | 11:08PM0.53m | 11:44AM0.48m | 00:49AM0.41m | 1:16PM0.40m | 1:58AM0.20m | 2:18PM0.27m | 2:50AM-0.02m | 3:08PM0.15m | 3:36AM-0.19m | 3:53PM0.06m | 4:19AM-0.30m | 4:36PM0.02m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 20 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 5 | W 10 | WSW 4 | — | W 8 | W 7 | ESE 4 | E 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 9 | SW 7 | — | SW 6 | — | — | WSW 3 | W 10 | W 10 | W 13 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | E 4 | SW 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | SW 8 | — | E 5 | — | — | W 9 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | SE 3 | NNE 3 | SW 2 | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | SW 2 | — | E 5 | E 5 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | — | — | WSW 3 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 37 | 51 | 312 | 114 | 66 | — | — | 13 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 340 | 386 | 324 | 297 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 318 | 318 | 244 | 250 | 247 | 443 | 263 | 170 | 108 | 227 | 155 | 155 | 227 | 108 |
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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