Swanage Surf Break

Lat Long: 50.61° N 1.96° W

Swanage Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Swanage sea temperature is
20.5°C
3.8° 

Swanage surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Swanage surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, WSW swell with 693 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period with WSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Swanage this week:

The surf forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Swanage in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sun 30th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 9s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 30th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 9s
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 31st Aug)8ft (2.5m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the local surf scene for the next couple of weeks.

For this stretch of coast, we’ve got a bit of a waiting game on our hands. The overall pattern is a long, drawn-out period of pretty poor conditions, with the odd flash of something that might get you out of bed. The first week especially is a write-off for most of us, plagued by strong winds and messy, short-period swell. Patience is the name of the game.

Right, let's start where it matters. The first real chance to get the board wet won't be until Monday the 31st of August. The morning at Swanage sees a 6 ft swell from the WSW, but it's a choppy, short-period 9 seconds with a fresh breeze. It's not great, but it's an offshore wind, so it'll be cleaner than the days before. The afternoon improves a little with a 5 ft wave, but the conditions are still a slog. The combined swell energy is moderate at 478-508 (moderate wave energy).

The rest of that first week is a real struggle. We get a bump up to 7 ft on Thursday the 3rd of September, but that's a horrible 6-second period with a cross-off wind. It's just a wind-swell mess with a combined energy of 376 (moderate wave energy). The clearer skies and offshore winds on the afternoon of the 3rd and into the 4th of September give us a cleaner look at 7 ft and 6 ft, but the period is still too short to hold any shape. It's borderline interesting for a kite surfer more than a paddler.

We hit a real flat spell from the 5th of September right through to the 11th of September. There are some tiny, long-period pulses, like a 1 ft at 13 seconds on the 4th and a 0.7 ft at 11 seconds on the 7th, but there's no energy behind them to speak of. The combined energy is a measly 12-66 (weak wave energy). It's a whole week of flat, small, or unmanageable conditions.

Now, the standout. The best of the whole forecast lands on Saturday the 12th of September. The morning session at Swanage is the one to circle. We’re looking at a solid 8 ft swell from the WSW, with a fresh offshore breeze from the WNW. That's a clean, powerful wave. The combined swell energy hits 750 (strong to very strong wave energy). This is proper, expert-level surf. The wave height is over 8 ft, so this is not for beginners. The 8-second period is a bit short, so it’ll be a bit dumpy and fast, keeping the crowd factor down as only the strong will be able to handle it. The afternoon sees it drop to 7 ft, but the wind cranks up to a near-gale, so get it in the morning.

After that, we get a bit of a leftover on Sunday the 13th of September, with a 2 ft to 3 ft groundswell at 12 seconds. It’s clean, but it’s a drop-off from the day before. The long period means it may break a bit flat at the main beach, but it will be a nice, clean option for a cruise.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout, the second week has a flat spell, but that Saturday the 12th of September is the absolute standout. Mark it down.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed night).

Sat
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
8
2.4
WSW
9
1.3
SW
9
1.5
SW
5
2.5
WSW
7
1.8
WSW
9
1.4
WSW
9
0.9
WSW
9
0.6
WSW
8
0.5
WSW
9
0.7
WSW
5
1
SW
4
1.4
SW
6
1.9
WSW
6
2.2
SW
6
2.1
WSW
6
2
WSW
6
1.9
WSW
7
0.4
SW
13
0.2
WSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1217
884
243
0
682
508
333
121
42
44
19
0
0
268
376
369
319
307
42
14
Wind (km/h)
45
WSW
35
W
25
SW
35
SW
40
WSW
30
W
30
WNW
15
WNW
10
SW
25
WSW
15
W
30
SW
35
SW
35
SW
30
WSW
35
W
30
W
35
WNW
30
WNW
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
9:20PM1.59m
9:45AM1.43m
9:52PM1.60m
10:18AM1.46m
10:27PM1.58m
10:52AM1.45m
11:04PM1.51m
11:30AM1.40m
11:45PM1.39m
12:12PM1.30m
4:51PM0.75m
00:31AM1.22m
5:18AM0.72m
1:03PM1.16m
1:32AM1.03m
Low Tide
4:59PM0.16m
5:20AM-0.11m
5:35PM0.16m
5:55AM-0.07m
6:13PM0.18m
6:33AM0.01m
6:53PM0.24m
7:14AM0.12m
7:37PM0.31m
7:59AM0.26m
4:12PM0.75m
8:27PM0.39m
4:34AM0.71m
4:49PM0.80m
9:30PM0.46m
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:18
6:20
6:22
6:22
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
7:58
7:55
7:53
7:51
7:49
7:46
 mm
1
1
3
Temp °C
19
18
19
19
17
18
18
15
17
18
17
17
18
18
20
21
16
19
19
16
Feels °C
12
11
14
13
11
13
12
12
14
14
15
12
13
14
15
15
11
12
12
12
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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