Today’s Coastal Conditions – Purbeck & Dorset Coast

Updated: Monday 27 October 2025

Latest data for paddleboarders and surfers:

• Paddleboarding – Swanage: Small wrap with light morning texture (~0.3–0.5 m / 1–1.5 ft at ~6–9 s). W–NW breeze increases mid-morning (14–20 kn). Safest/glassiest inside the bay at first light; expect chop by late morning.
• Paddleboarding – Studland, Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door: Most sheltered options today. Calmest early before the breeze peaks; reassess if whitecaps appear.
• Paddleboarding – Kimmeridge Bay: Noticeable surge over the reefs (~0.5–0.8 m / 1.5–2.5 ft) from short-period energy. Mellow exploration near slack water; avoid tight reef zones if sets pulse.
• Surf – Swanage: Windswell wrap with rideable peaks ~0.6–0.9 m (2–3 ft) at ~6–9 s. Cleanest around dawn and again toward dusk if the wind eases.
• Surf – Kimmeridge: SW/W windswell mix ~1.0–1.6 m (3–5+ ft) at ~6–9 s. W–NW breeze is cross-/cross-off; best on the pushing tide for confident surfers only.
• Surf – Bournemouth & Boscombe: Active beachbreaks with short-period swell ~0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) at ~5–8 s. Onshore wobble at times; aim for dawn/dusk for tidier spells.

Summary:
Choose sheltered coves early for SUP. Exposed beaches are punchy and wind-affected; the most reliable surf is at Kimmeridge and Boscombe, with the cleanest windows near sunrise and again toward sunset if the breeze backs off.

Please always check local tide and weather forecasts on the day and assess conditions on arrival. If in doubt, don’t go out.