Church Cove Surf Break

Lat Long: 50.04° N 5.27° W

Church Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Church Cove sea temperature is
18.8° C
1.7° 

Church Cove surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Church Cove surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, WNW swell with 901 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 1.7m 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 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Fri 21st Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Fri 21st Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Most Powerful 7PM (Thu 20th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Church Cove over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, grab your board and let’s talk about what’s shaking. This stretch is a bit of a mixed bag, honestly. We’ve got some swell rolling through, but the winds are going to be the real story, and for the most part, they’re not playing nice. The start of this run looks pretty grim, with more chop and cross-shore junk than clean, rideable surf. But don't write it off just yet, because there are a couple of moments tucked in there that could be worth the wait.

First things first, the water at Church Cove is sitting at 66°, which is just a touch warmer than average for this time of year. Not a big deal, but you might not need the thickest suit.

We're looking at a rough patch right out of the gate. Thursday the 20th has a solid 8ft to 8ft of west-northwest swell with a 9-second period, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore, making it lumpy and messy. The energy is moderate to strong (868 and 1754), but it's just not going to be clean. The surf quality is poor, and it’s not worth paddling out into that. Friday and the weekend drop off in size, but the wind stays cross-off, keeping things clean but small. The swell is just too weak, with energy falling below 100. We're looking at a few days of nothing worthwhile.

The start of next week is more of the same, with tiny surf and clean conditions, but nothing to get excited about. The energy stays weak, with values in the 30s and 50s. You’d be better off finding something else to do. This gap of no-surf stretches on for days.

Then, things get a little more interesting. We start seeing some push of energy from the 26th onwards. There's a risk of thunderstorms and a lumpy 5ft to 6ft south-southwest swell, but the wind is on it, making it choppy. It's still not good. The 29th sees a big jump in size, with a 13ft west swell and energy hitting 2954, but it's accompanied by fresh cross-onshore winds. That's a big, stormy mess, not a surfing wave. That’s for the experts only, if anyone’s mad enough.

Now, here’s where I get a little more hopeful. The long-range stuff, well into the second week, starts to look a bit better. After that wild weekend, the winds ease off and turn offshore. There’s a period around the 2nd and 3rd of September where we get some clean conditions. The swell is still small, around 4ft, but the wind is lighter and cross-off. The energy is moderate (285). It's a promising sign, but it's a long way out. And then, on the 4th of September, the morning looks glassy with light offshore winds and a clean 3ft wave, though the energy is weak (79). It's not a classic, but after this long dry spell, any clean wave is a good wave.

So, the standout here, and I mean the only real standout, is that morning of Thursday, September 4th. It’s not big, but it’ll be clean, and with the wind going glassy, it might just be the most fun you’ll have all forecast. It’s far out, so don’t book your flights just yet, but keep an eye on it. Otherwise, this is a waiting game. The surf will be back.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Thu morning, light winds from the N by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon morning, light winds from the S by Tue afternoon).

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
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
W
9
2.4
WNW
9
1.7
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
8
0.7
W
8
0.6
W
9
0.4
WSW
9
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
14
0.4
SW
11
0.3
SSW
14
0.2
SSW
14
0.3
SW
9
0.2
SSW
13
0.4
WNW
10
0.5
W
9
0.6
W
9
1.5
WSW
8
1.7
SSW
8
1.4
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
847
979
529
215
140
68
52
27
42
38
38
39
18
17
17
33
42
56
257
394
325
Wind (km/h)
30
WNW
30
NW
15
NNW
25
N
25
NNW
10
N
20
E
20
ESE
15
NNE
15
E
20
ESE
20
ENE
35
E
45
E
35
E
20
ESE
20
SSE
20
S
30
S
35
SSE
25
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
High Tide
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
4:14PM3.91m
4:34AM3.89m
4:52PM4.21m
Low Tide
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
10:25AM1.22m
10:53PM1.02m
11:06AM0.90m
11:30PM0.70m
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:18
6:20
6:20
6:22
6:24
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:30
8:29
8:27
8:24
8:22
8:20
8:17
 mm
2
2
1
1
3
4
Temp °C
18
18
16
16
16
15
17
18
17
18
19
17
18
18
18
19
20
19
19
18
17
Feels °C
12
13
13
11
10
13
14
15
13
15
16
14
12
10
11
17
19
18
16
13
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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