Surf Forecasts:
Caerhays surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, SSW swell with 232 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Caerhays this week:
The surf forecast for Caerhays over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Caerhays in the next 16 days are 1.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Caerhays over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk Caerhays in feet and miles per hour. It’s a slow burn, with a big stretch of nothing before we get a proper window.
From Thursday 20th August all the way through the end of the month, there’s nothing doing. The swell is tiny, mostly under a foot, and the wind is blowing all sorts of directions – cross, cross-off, onshore – none of it good. The wave energy readings are weak, we’re talking single and low double-digit numbers in the brackets, so there’s no push. Water temp is about 66°F, a bit warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only highlight. You’ll be looking at a dry spell from the 20th right up to the 1st of September. That’s a solid 13-day gap with no surf worth mentioning.
The first real shot comes on the morning of Wednesday, 2nd September. We’ll have a clean north wind at around 12 mph, blowing straight offshore, which is perfect. The swell will be around 5 ft from the SW with a 8-second period, and the combined energy hits a solid 285 in the brackets – that’s moderate to strong energy, enough to get some decent walls. Caerhays likes a SSW direction, and this is close enough, so it should line up well. That morning is the best call of the whole outlook. By the afternoon, the swell drops to around 2 ft and the energy falls off to 66, so make sure you’re out there early.
After that, it goes quiet again. Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September are flat and glassy but with no power – energy readings in the teens and single digits. So, the only real standout is that Wednesday the 2nd morning. It’s a week and a half away, so keep it on the radar.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu morning, light winds from the NE by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the E by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 7 | SW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 8 | S 16 | S 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 49 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 29 | 20 | 81 | 227 | 114 | 25 | 6 | 18 | 164 | 216 | 73 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:00AM3.66m | 11:27PM3.50m | 12:02PM3.41m | 00:39AM3.25m | 1:20PM3.27m | 1:59AM3.17m | 2:38PM3.31m | 3:13AM3.26m | 3:45PM3.50m | 4:14AM3.47m | 4:38PM3.78m | 5:02AM3.73m | 5:21PM4.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:19PM1.29m | 5:40AM1.45m | 6:11PM1.62m | 6:43AM1.73m | 7:41PM1.82m | 8:33AM1.81m | 9:32PM1.71m | 9:59AM1.59m | 10:34PM1.40m | 10:50AM1.26m | 11:16PM1.04m | 11:29AM0.91m | 11:53PM0.68m | ||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | SW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 8 | SW 8 | S 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | ESE 4 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 5 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 8 | ESE 4 | SW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 |
17 | 49 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 164 | 216 | 73 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | SW 13 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | SSW 15 | E 5 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 13 | E 6 | — | S 12 | W 8 | SE 4 |
10 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 29 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | — | 3 | 152 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | — | — | W 10 | S 16 | S 13 | W 10 | S 12 | W 9 | — | W 6 | SW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | S 13 | SSW 8 | S 13 | SW 12 | W 10 | SW 11 |
4 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | NW 3 | — | N 2 | NW 3 | — | — | ESE 4 | — | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | NE 3 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 4 | SSW 3 | S 4 | — | — | — |
2 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 10 | — | 1 | 9 | 2 | 81 | 227 | 114 | 25 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 533 | 191 | 31 | 54 | 43 | 37 | 25 | 25 | 41 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 410 | 178 | 239 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 158 | 111 | 27 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











