Swanage Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – it's looking proper flat and grim out there for the next couple of weeks. We've got a long stretch of nothing on the cards, so if you're jonesing for a wave, you might want to pick up a different hobby for a bit.

Looking at the whole 16-day window from the 28th of August through the 12th of September, there's just no real surf to get excited about. We've got a massive gap with absolutely nothing on offer for the first few days, and even when a bit of swell tries to show up, it's all wrong for our setup. It's a tough stretch, but this kind of blank run isn't unusual around here, so don't go smashing your board just yet.

The first bit of significant swell shows up on Saturday the 29th, with a reading of 12ft from the southwest, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and the wind is howling at 31 mph. The combined energy is strong, at 1352, but with that kind of wind, it's gunna be a brutal, blown-out mess. Not worth the paddle. Then Sunday the 30th is cleaner with a 4ft southwest swell and lighter winds, but the energy is moderate at 249, and it's still not doing our little corner any favors. We get a few more days of knee-high dribble from the west-southwest, with some decent offshore winds, especially on Monday the 31st with a 6ft swell and 19 mph offshore wind. But again, the period is short and the location just isn't picking it up. The energy is only moderate at 466. It's just not coming together.

The water is currently about 69°, which is a massive 7° warmer than usual for this time of year. That is very unusual, so if you do brave it for a paddle, you won't need the thickest suit.

As for a standout, there isn't one. If I had to point to the best of a bad bunch, it would be Monday morning the 31st. There's a 6ft southwest swell, with a fresh offshore west wind, which will at least clean up the surface. But it's a short-period swell, and Swanage just isn't going to hold it well. The energy is moderate at 466, and even then, the reports call the conditions "very ordinary." For the rest of the window, we're looking at waves under 2ft, if any, and a lot of flat days.

The long-range stuff around September 11th and 12th shows some tiny westerly swells with longer periods of 10-13 seconds, but the size is next to nothing at 0.3ft. Hardly worth a mention, it's that small.

Honestly, this is a kite-surfing kind of forecast, not a surfing one. With the strong winds and the surf being poor, the bay might look more interesting for the kite crew. There's just no quality paddle surfing to be had. Keep the board in the car, grab a coffee, and wait for the next proper groundswell. Forecasts can change, so don't lose hope, but this one looks done for.

Rusty.

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