Surf Forecasts:
Church Cove surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, WSW swell with 2,218 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Church Cove this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Church Cove in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Church Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with ya – the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for a paddle. Church Cove is the only spot on the radar, and it’s honestly a struggle to find a window that’s worth getting wet for. This break is inconsistent at the best of times, and right now it’s copping a real hammering. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions from today, Friday the 28th of August, all the way through to about the 10th of September. That’s nearly two weeks of onshore slop, strong winds, and blown-out mess.
The water temp is sitting around 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – not that it’ll matter much when you’re fighting a gale.
Let’s run through it. Friday the 28th is a write-off – cross-on and onshore winds from the WSW at 16 mph, weak 3 ft to 5 ft swell with a short, gutless 6-second period. Combined energy is weak to moderate (112-168). No score.
Saturday the 29th gets uglier. We’ve got a near gale screaming in from the SW at 34 mph, pushing a 10 ft to 13 ft swell. That’s well over 8 ft, so only for experts if it were clean, but it’s blown out. Combined energy jumps to strong (937-2621). Don’t bother.
Sunday the 30th through to Thursday the 3rd of September is the same story – fresh to moderate onshore breezes, lumpy cross-chop, and waves from 4 ft up to 8 ft. The combined energy is moderate to strong (230-1194), but the quality is zero.
Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September are the closest we get to a pulse. On Saturday morning the 5th, we finally see a light breeze from the NNW at 6 mph, giving us a cross-offshore flow and clean conditions. The swell is only 4 ft from the west with a 9-second period (moderate energy, 238). The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – it’s the only time in the whole run that gets any kind of nod, and it’s barely a 1/10. Still, if you’re desperate, that Saturday morning is your best bet. The afternoon goes cross-shore and choppy again.
From Sunday the 6th right through to Saturday the 12th of September, it’s back to onshore or cross-on winds, tiny swell under 3 ft, and even a few days with combined energy below 100 (weak). The 10th and 11th have clean offshore or cross-off winds from the north, but the swell is pitiful – 1 ft to 2 ft with periods as low as 5 seconds. You’d be floating.
Honestly, mate, this is a kite-surfing window more than a paddle-surfing one – especially those days with 10 ft+ swell and strong winds. The only half-decent wave is that Saturday morning, September the 5th, and even then it’s just a little waist-high ripple with a clean face. Don’t get your hopes up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri night, min 16°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon night, strong winds from the SW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 6 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
162 | 141 | 967 | 2218 | 921 | 355 | 778 | 1955 | 1145 | 854 | 407 | 225 | 214 | 125 | 131 | 193 | 458 | 345 | 308 | 370 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:57PM4.71m | 6:13AM4.57m | 6:28PM4.87m | 6:45AM4.70m | 7:00PM4.94m | 7:18AM4.75m | 7:34PM4.92m | 7:53AM4.71m | 8:11PM4.78m | 8:31AM4.57m | 8:52PM4.54m | 9:15AM4.34m | 9:40PM4.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM0.21m | 12:51PM0.20m | 1:13AM0.08m | 1:26PM0.12m | 1:48AM0.06m | 2:01PM0.14m | 2:23AM0.14m | 2:39PM0.26m | 3:01AM0.32m | 3:19PM0.46m | 3:43AM0.58m | 4:06PM0.73m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | |
mm | — | 13 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | WNW 8 | — | — | WSW 9 | W 9 | — | — | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 17 | W 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 6 | WSW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
5 | 12 | — | — | 921 | 355 | — | — | 1145 | 854 | 407 | 225 | 12 | 125 | 25 | 23 | 62 | 345 | 44 | 22 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | S 11 | — | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | S 18 | — | SW 16 | S 10 | SSW 15 | SW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | — |
5 | 2 | — | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 6 | — | 10 | 2 | 22 | 12 | 21 | 22 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | — | — | S 11 | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 21 | 22 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | — | SSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | W 7 | WSW 6 | W 8 | — | W 8 | WSW 8 |
162 | 141 | 967 | 2218 | — | 111 | 778 | 1955 | — | — | — | — | 214 | — | 131 | 193 | 458 | — | 308 | 370 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 255 | 190 | 576 | 357 | 183 | 68 | 66 | 522 | 181 | 172 | 189 | 22 | 192 | 190 | 22 | 416 | 190 | 201 | 22 | 190 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Church Cove Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Church Cove provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Church Cove can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Church Cove 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 (Church Cove) 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 Church Cove 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.
Are you planning a holiday in South Cornwall? If you are looking for accommodation near Church Cove, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in South Cornwall, consider staying in The Lizard which is 13 km (8 miles) away. Other places in and around South Cornwall where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Penryn which is 17 km (11 miles) away, Falmouth, Camborne and Penzance.











