Surf Forecasts:
Caerhays surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, W swell with 973 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Caerhays this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Caerhays in the next 16 days are 2.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Caerhays over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s look at Caerhays – it’s a tough outlook, I’ll tell ya straight up. The first 10 days or so are a total write-off. From Sunday the 30th of August through the first week of September, it’s flat, small, and messy.
The water’s about 65°F, a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that doesn’t help when the surf is mostly 0.7 to 1 ft and weak. The wind is cross-on and fresh, making it lumpy and unappealing. Monday the 31st of August has cleaner cross-off wind, but the swell is only 0.7 to 1 ft – clean but tiny.
Thursday the 3rd of September morning brings a bump to 5 ft at 8 seconds from the WSW, with moderate cross-shore wind and moderate energy (374), but it’s still poor quality. Right after that morning, it drops again to 0.7 ft. The whole first week is a lot of 0.7 ft to 1 ft swells in clean conditions but no power – just tiny dribbles.
Best you can hope for is Sunday the 13th of September, the only day with some size: 5 ft to 6 ft from the ESE, but short period of 6 seconds and cross-off wind in the morning, then cross-shore and choppy in the afternoon. Energy hits 265, but that short-period, lumpy swell is going to be a washed-out mess at the beach – more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Not for beginners.
Before that, Saturday the 12th of September morning has a 2 ft swell from the W with an 11-second period and moderate energy (123) under cross-shore wind, but it’s just too small. The 13th is the only day with any real height, but it’s still poor.
Overall, you’re looking at a long, flat run. Caerhays is a spot that rarely breaks well, and this forecast proves it. No standouts. Nothing to get excited about. Keep an eye on it, forecasts shift.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 15 | WSW 12 | SW 5 | W 10 | WSW 11 | W 11 | S 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
125 | 93 | 57 | 64 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 45 | 39 | 16 | 23 | 14 | 38 | 973 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 3 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:25PM4.79m | 7:43AM4.60m | 7:56PM4.79m | 8:14AM4.58m | 8:30PM4.68m | 8:50AM4.47m | 9:09PM4.46m | 9:32AM4.27m | 9:56PM4.16m | 10:24AM3.99m | 10:56PM3.80m | 11:36AM3.71m | 00:23AM3.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:08AM-0.14m | 2:22PM-0.05m | 2:44AM-0.09m | 3:00PM0.05m | 3:22AM0.09m | 3:40PM0.25m | 4:03AM0.37m | 4:24PM0.54m | 4:49AM0.72m | 5:17PM0.89m | 5:47AM1.08m | 6:26PM1.20m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | |
mm | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 5 | W 8 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 6 | SSW 4 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 |
2 | 48 | 32 | 26 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 9 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | W 10 | S 17 | S 16 | W 8 | — | — | WSW 7 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 5 | WSW 6 | W 11 | W 10 | S 13 |
— | 93 | 57 | 64 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 11 | WSW 9 | — | — | S 18 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | — | W 7 | — | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | S 14 | S 13 | W 10 |
— | 12 | 30 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 1 | — | 12 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | W 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | — | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | W 10 | WNW 3 | — | — | — |
125 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 8 | 6 | 16 | 45 | 39 | — | 22 | 10 | 38 | 973 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 516 | 165 | 210 | 165 | 27 | 27 | 44 | 26 | 270 | 187 | 44 | 270 | 27 | 218 | 210 | 191 | 209 | 31 | 43 | 25 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Caerhays Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Caerhays provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Caerhays can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Caerhays 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 (Caerhays) 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 Caerhays 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.
Caerhays is 13 km (8 miles) from Saint Austell. If you plan a holiday in South Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in Saint Austell. Saint Austell has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











