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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 Dover. 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 Dover is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Barely any swell. Not much to work with today. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Heavy offshore making for difficult paddle-outs but textbook faces. 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 79% 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 03:00
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
Updated 10:34
Local knowledge and community tips for Dover
Dover is primarily known as a Channel swimming launch point rather than a surf destination. The beach faces south-east into the English Channel beneath the iconic white cliffs. Shingle dominates the coastline with pockets of sand at low water. Surfable waves are exceptionally rare, requiring a very specific set of circumstances. It is included here for completeness but should not be considered a reliable surf spot.
Requires a strong easterly or south-easterly wind generating short-period chop along the Channel. A north-westerly wind would be offshore but this combination is extremely rare with simultaneous swell. The odd storm swell from the north-east might produce something rideable once or twice a winter. Do not travel here expecting waves.
If anything is breaking, it will be on the shingle beaches east of the harbour where there is slightly more exposure. The beaches directly beneath the castle occasionally show surf on the biggest storm events. There is no defined peak or take-off zone as such.
Shipping traffic in the Channel is intense and the port area is off-limits. Strong tidal currents run through the Strait of Dover. The shingle beach makes entry and exit difficult. Water quality near the port can be poor. This is a working maritime environment, not a surf beach.
Various car parks along the seafront and beneath the cliffs. Beach access is straightforward but the shingle is steep and shifting. Facilities available in town.
Non-existent for surfing. You will see Channel swimmers, kayakers, and the occasional paddleboarder but surfing here is a novelty rather than a pursuit.
Honestly, if the Channel is producing surf-worthy waves at Dover, something extraordinary is happening weather-wise. If you live locally and spot a rare opportunity, grab it for the novelty value. Otherwise, focus your attention on the south coast spots with actual swell exposure like Compton Bay or Bracklesham.
Surf at Dover
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Dover
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Dover tend to be best between 05:00 to 08:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 6/100
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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