Surf Forecasts:
Swanage surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, SW swell with 883 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with SW 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Swanage over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this 16-day outlook for Swanage is a stinker. There’s no real surf to speak of, and a big long gap in the middle where you might as well take up golf.
We start off flat. Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th are tiny, with onshore wind and junk. Wednesday 26th is dead. Thursday 27th morning is still flat, but the afternoon shows a pulse of 1.6m from the SW, but it’s short period and weak. The combined energy is moderate (184). It’s still “poor surf conditions.”
Friday 28th morning sees a jump to 2.5m from the SW, but with a near gale, it’s a mess. The afternoon drops to 1.9m with offshore wind, making it surfable but very ordinary. Combined energy is moderate (427). Saturday 29th is a windy mess with a 2.2m afternoon pulse. Sunday 30th and Monday 31st see 1.7m to 1.9m SW swell with offshore winds, but the quality is still poor. Combined energy is moderate (275, 246).
Then it’s a total desert. From Tuesday 1st September through Friday 5th, there’s zero swell. The water is sitting at 69°F, which is a massive 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual. You could swim in a bath, but there’s nothing to ride.
Finally, Saturday 6th September shows a tiny 0.2m pulse from the WSW with a very long 11-second period, but it’s weak (18). Sunday 7th is even smaller with a 0.1m, 17-second period groundswell – that’s a very long period, but at Swanage, it’s just not enough size. Still nothing.
The only flicker is Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th September. A 1.2m SW swell with a massive 19-second period is forecast for Monday morning, with strong combined energy (1040). That’s a long-period groundswell, better for a reef or point, but at Swanage, it’s likely to be too straight. The wind is cross-shore and lumpy. Tuesday afternoon sees 1.1m, 16-second period, combined energy strong (677), with cleaner cross-offshore winds. But the data still rates it as “poor surf conditions.” It’s a long way off and not a sure thing.
There’s no standout day. The whole run is poor, weak, or windy. Crowds are always possible at Swanage, but with this forecast, it’ll be empty. The only positive is that the water is unusually warm.
Don’t hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a real bummer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon morning, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | E 6 | E 5 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 3 | E 3 | W 8 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 6 | WSW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 3 | 3 | 130 | 45 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 184 | 167 | 780 | 427 | 121 | 20 | 427 | 211 | 125 | 275 | 428 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:00PM1.16m | 7:28AM1.05m | 7:28PM1.26m | 7:55AM1.13m | 7:55PM1.37m | 8:21AM1.22m | 8:22PM1.46m | 8:47AM1.30m | 8:50PM1.53m | 9:15AM1.38m | 9:20PM1.59m | 9:45AM1.43m | 9:52PM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:22PM0.48m | 2:47AM0.28m | 2:53PM0.38m | 3:15AM0.15m | 3:22PM0.30m | 3:44AM0.04m | 3:53PM0.23m | 4:14AM-0.05m | 4:25PM0.18m | 4:46AM-0.10m | 4:59PM0.16m | 5:20AM-0.11m | 5:35PM0.16m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | E 4 | E 4 | SSW 3 | SW 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | — | SE 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 11 | W 12 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | SW 7 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | W 9 | — | W 8 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | — | SSW 2 | — | E 3 | SSW 4 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 8 | SW 6 | WSW 7 |
| kJ | 239 | 293 | 278 | 130 | 45 | — | 1 | — | 5 | 22 | 184 | 167 | 780 | 427 | 121 | 66 | 427 | 211 | 125 | 275 | 428 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 471 | 318 | 226 | 217 | 185 | 170 | 186 | 217 | 329 | 110 | 109 | 55 | 166 | 0 | 2 | 323 | 246 | 100 | 607 | 246 | 511 |
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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