United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Compton Bay. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical early July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
The best week for surf at Compton Bay is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Small waves but still worth a paddle for keen surfers. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Onshore chop spoiling the lineup. Conditions improving through the afternoon. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
Heads up: jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 82% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 21:00
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
Local knowledge and community tips for Compton Bay
Compton Bay is the Isle of Wight's premier surf spot, a south-west-facing beach break backed by crumbling chalk cliffs. Sand overlays a reef base, creating peaks that offer more definition than a pure sand-bottom break. It picks up swell funnelling up the English Channel and is the most consistent wave on the south coast of England east of Dorset. The setting is wild and unspoilt, with fossils in the cliff face.
Needs south-westerly groundswell pushing up the Channel. A north-easterly offshore wind creates clean conditions. Works September through April with the best consistency in winter. Handles 2-6ft; above that the sections become disorganised. Any tide works but low to mid often gives more shape over the reef patches.
Multiple peaks form across the bay but the central section where the reef creates a defined bank is usually best. The southern end near the military road has slightly steeper peaks. Walk the beach and look for the darker water patches that indicate the reef underneath; waves breaking over these tend to have more shape.
Submerged chalk and greensand rocks are present throughout and exposed at lower tides. The cliff face regularly sheds chunks of chalk, so do not sit directly beneath it. Rip currents form along the reef edges on bigger swells. The access down the cliff is steep and the path erodes regularly.
National Trust car park at the cliff top. A steep path leads down to the beach (5-10 minutes). The path changes after cliff falls so follow the current marked route. No facilities at beach level. The car park can fill on sunny weekends.
A small, friendly local crew surfs Compton regularly. Given the Isle of Wight's population, it never gets truly crowded. You might find 10-15 people out on a good weekend. The effort of getting to the island (ferry required unless you live there) keeps casual visitors away.
The ferry crossing means you need to commit to a session here. Check forecasts thoroughly before making the trip. The reef sections produce better waves at low tide but also more risk of hitting rock. After a long period of south-westerly storms, the sand builds up and the banks improve. Ventnor on the south side occasionally works on a big south-easterly.
Surf at Compton Bay
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Compton Bay
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Compton Bay tend to be best between 05:00 to 08:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 13/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go →Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 31 days of logged conditions.
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