Caerhays Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch for Caerhays (Cornwall). The whole 16-day forecast is covered in “poor surf conditions” – not a single recommendation anywhere. The finder is showing zero good options, so we’re looking at a long, blank run. The spot is fairly exposed to swell, so it won’t stay this way forever, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Water temp is about 66°F, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year – about 3°F above normal. Feels nice, but it won’t help the waves.

Starting Wednesday, August 19th, we’ve got a tiny 0.3ft S swell with a 16-second period, but combined energy is a weak 11. Wind is blowing 30 km/h from the W, cross-off, so it’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride. Thursday the 20th sees a little more size – 1ft to 2ft SW swell – but period drops to 7-10 seconds, energy stays low, and wind is still cross-off. Still poor.

Friday the 21st morning has a brief window of offshore wind from the N at 20 km/h, clean conditions, but the swell is only 0.7ft. It’s just not happening. The rest of that weekend is tiny swells with cross or cross-on winds. Crowds at Caerhays are “sometimes,” but with waves like this, the beach will be empty.

There’s a gap of several days with no real surf. Then Monday the 24th, we get a spike in size – 4ft to 6ft ESE swell – but it’s short-period windswell at 5-6 seconds, with a strong 40 km/h E cross wind. That’s messy, raw, and the wave quality is poor. Combined energy hits 246 on Monday afternoon, which is moderate, but it’s not a surfable wave. More of a kite-surfing setup.

Through the rest of the week, conditions stay mixed. Wednesday the 26th brings a 5ft SSW swell with 8-second period, energy up to 440 – moderate – but onshore with a moderate breeze and choppy. For the experts, maybe a few grindy closeouts, but nothing special.

The last few days of August and into early September, we’re looking at mostly tiny swells under 2ft, short periods, and cross-off or cross winds. There’s a glassy moment on the morning of Friday the 28th with a 1ft SSW swell and 6-second period, but it’s flat. Even the longer-period pulses (10-15 seconds) are too small and weak.

There’s a final push on Thursday, September 3rd, with a 8ft SSW swell, 8-second period, and combined energy of 622 – that’s moderate to strong. But the wind is onshore from the SSE at 25 km/h, and the wave comment is still poor. That’s one for the big-wave crew only, and even then, it’s going to be lumpy and messy.

Bottom line: there’s no surf worth chasing in this window. Caerhays is a reliable spot when it’s on, but this forecast is a dud. Keep your board waxed and your eyes on the next update.

Rusty.

Read more