Surf Forecasts:
Church Cove surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, W swell with 865 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Church Cove this week:
The surf forecast for Church Cove over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Church Cove in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Church Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, let’s break this down in feet and degrees.
Honestly, Church Cove is having a rough run for the next 16 days. There’s a big dry spell at the start. The first time you might get a wave worth paddling for is Friday the 21st of August, and even then it’s nothing to write home about. The water is about 66°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze waiting.
Let’s get into it. The only half-decent session is Friday morning the 21st. You’ve got a 4ft swell from the west with a 8-second period – short-period, windswell stuff. What saves it is the offshore wind from the northeast at 16 mph, which will keep it clean. Combined wave energy is moderate at 222. It’s surfable but very ordinary, and crowds are possible there. The rest of that first week is just cross-on winds, chop, and overall poor conditions.
After that, it goes flat and messy for days. You get a little bump on the 25th of August with a 4ft swell, but the wind is fresh and cross-onshore, so it’s lumpy and no good. Honestly, Church Cove is inconsistent, and this stretch proves it.
The real standout is way out on Tuesday the 1st of September. That morning you get a big 10ft swell from the west-southwest with a 8-second period. Combined energy is a strong 1136 – that’s powerful. It’s too big for beginners, but for experts, that’s a serious day if the wind behaves, and it does: a moderate to fresh offshore from the north-northwest at 22 to 25 mph, keeping it clean. That’s your best bet, but it’s a long way out, so stay hopeful but not certain. The following Wednesday the 2nd has a 7ft swell but onshore wind kills it.
So, to sum it up: Friday the 21st morning for a small, clean wave, and keep an eye on Tuesday the 1st of September for something big. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NE by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | WNW 10 | W 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 9 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
145 | 147 | 287 | 370 | 533 | 865 | 787 | 464 | 215 | 133 | 38 | 42 | 23 | 42 | 19 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 9:25PM4.22m | 9:47AM3.98m | 10:10PM3.84m | 10:36AM3.66m | 11:06PM3.49m | 11:42AM3.40m | 00:25AM3.26m | 1:09PM3.29m | 1:52AM3.23m | 2:28PM3.38m | 3:01AM3.38m | 3:28PM3.62m | 3:53AM3.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:05AM0.83m | 4:23PM1.01m | 4:44AM1.18m | 5:07PM1.34m | 5:31AM1.50m | 6:05PM1.62m | 6:38AM1.72m | 7:29PM1.75m | 8:12AM1.74m | 9:05PM1.64m | 9:33AM1.53m | 10:08PM1.35m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SSW 17 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
11 | 29 | 287 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 787 | 464 | 215 | 133 | 38 | 42 | 23 | 24 | 14 | 24 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 3 | SSW 16 | WNW 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 5 | SSW 14 | WNW 5 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 12 |
— | — | 24 | — | — | — | 20 | 19 | 17 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 21 | 42 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 19 | 18 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 5 | SSW 13 | E 5 | SSW 15 | SW 12 | E 4 | SSW 14 | — | SSW 14 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SSW 13 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 17 | 2 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 19 | — | 20 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | — | WNW 10 | W 8 | W 9 | — | — | ENE 2 | N 6 | NW 6 | N 4 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | N 4 | NW 6 | N 3 | — | — | — |
145 | 147 | — | 370 | 533 | 865 | — | — | 1 | 24 | 39 | 21 | 43 | 24 | 9 | 26 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 190 | 181 | 90 | 190 | 261 | 181 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 232 | 257 | 192 | 7 | 10 | 404 | 271 | 415 | 407 | 10 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











