Surf Forecasts:
Caerhays surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, WSW swell with 28 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Caerhays this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Caerhays in the next 16 days are 0.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Caerhays over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Caerhays. I’m not gonna lie to you, it’s a bit of a slow burner. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, a nice 66°F for the first session, but that’s about the only gift we’re getting early on.
We’ve got a real dry spell to kick things off. From Monday the 17th right through to the end of the following week, it’s a proper flat patch. The first week and a bit is just a write-off – tiny waves, mostly under 1ft, and way too long a period for such small height. The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore, which would be lovely if there was any swell, but there isn’t. You’ll see a little bump on Wednesday the 19th with a 2ft swell from the WSW, but the period is a shocking 3 seconds, so it’s just a messy, weak little windswell. The combined energy is only 16, which is virtually nothing. Not worth getting wet for.
There’s a gap of over a week before anything even looks like a surfable wave. The first hint of life appears on the morning of Thursday the 27th of August. We get a glassy 2ft from the SW with a 7-second period, but the combined energy is still only 49, so it’s weak. The afternoon picks up a bit to 4ft from the SSW, but it’s cross-onshore, making it choppy. That’s not the one.
The only real standout in this whole 16-day window falls on Friday the 28th of August. The morning session is the best on offer. We’ve got a clean 4ft swell from the SSW, with a light cross-off breeze from the NW. The combined energy is a solid 161, so there’s some proper push in the water. The period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell, but it’s clean and surfable. The afternoon sees a bigger 7ft swell from the S, but it’s cross-onshore, and the energy jumps to 438, which is strong. That’s a lot of messy power, probably only for the experienced lads and lasses, and it’s not going to be pretty. For the average punter, get the early morning tide on Friday the 28th.
After that, it fades again. The 29th and 30th have some clean, small waves, but nothing with any real energy. The 31st is blown out with a risk of thunderstorms and fresh cross-shore winds. The first few days of September look like a return to the weak, messy stuff.
So, to sum it up: Caerhays is mostly a no-go until the 28th. That Friday morning is your best bet for a clean, surfable wave, even if it’s a little short-period. Don’t get your hopes up for the rest of the run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 | S 17 | S 17 | S 17 | WSW 7 | WSW 3 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 10 | SW 14 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 9 | 28 | 12 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:11PM4.48m | 9:32AM4.20m | 9:50PM4.16m | 10:12AM3.94m | 10:33PM3.82m | 11:00AM3.66m | 11:27PM3.50m | 12:02PM3.41m | 00:39AM3.25m | 1:20PM3.27m | 1:59AM3.17m | 2:38PM3.31m | 3:13AM3.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:24PM0.21m | 3:46AM0.32m | 4:01PM0.55m | 4:21AM0.70m | 4:38PM0.92m | 4:58AM1.09m | 5:19PM1.29m | 5:40AM1.45m | 6:11PM1.62m | 6:43AM1.73m | 7:41PM1.82m | 8:33AM1.81m | 9:32PM1.71m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | W 7 | W 7 | S 17 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 15 | SW 6 | SW 10 | SW 5 | SW 8 | SW 8 | E 6 | SW 15 | E 6 | ESE 5 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | S 18 | S 16 | W 9 | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | SW 13 | S 16 | E 7 | SW 15 | SW 15 | — | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 8 | — | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | — | W 10 | S 16 | S 16 | S 13 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | — | WNW 5 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 3 | W 2 | W 3 | W 3 | W 3 | WSW 7 | WSW 3 | WSW 6 | WNW 2 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 430 | 531 | 210 | 269 | 848 | 252 | 270 | 218 | 153 | 153 | 43 | 43 | 30 | 210 | 209 | 180 | 269 | 25 | 41 | 417 | 307 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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