
Surf Forecasts:
Harlyn surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, N swell with 160 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Harlyn this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Harlyn in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 10PM. 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 2s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Harlyn over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. I’m not gonna lie to you, this is a tough one. The next 16 days are looking bleak for Harlyn. The swell windows are all wrong, the wind is mostly a mess, and the wave heights are just not doing what we need them to do. For almost the entire first week, we’re looking at tiny, weak, short-period wind swell—mostly from the north, which is the worst possible direction for this spot. Harlyn is a sheltered cove, and it needs a strong west-northwest to really light up. Instead, we’re getting onshore north winds and flat, gutless conditions. The combined swell energy is weak, barely cracking 60 or 70 (62) for most of the first week, with heights under 3ft. It’s a write-off.
There’s a long gap of nearly a week with absolutely nothing worth paddling out for. A few morning windows show glassy conditions, like Monday morning the 20th of July, but that’s with a 0.7ft swell from the west-northwest. That’s a lake, not a surf. The water temperature is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re staring at flat water.
The only real pulse of energy comes in the second week, starting around Monday the 27th of July. We see a jump in combined swell energy to 239 and 247, with swell heights hitting 5ft from the west and a period of 7 seconds. That’s more push, but it’s short-period wind swell, and the wind is cross-shore from the west at 15-18 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. It’s not clean, and it’s not the right direction. That pattern continues into the end of the month, with energy building all the way to 671 by Friday the 31st of July, with heights of 8ft. That’s the biggest swell of the outlook, but it’s still a short-period (8 seconds) west-northwest swell, and the wind is cross-shore. For a sheltered break like Harlyn, that’s just going to be a messy, walled-up closeout. Beginners should stay well clear of anything over 5ft, and 8ft is expert-only territory anyway, but with the poor wind alignment, it’s not going to be quality.
The best of a bad bunch is probably the morning of Saturday the 1st of August. There’s a 4ft, 10-second west swell, and the wind is cross-offshore from the west-southwest at 15 mph. That’s the cleanest wind we see, and the period is long enough to hold a line. The combined energy is still strong (605), but the tide and the break quality will be questionable. It’s a marginal call, but it’s the only window where you might find a few workable ones if you’re desperate and pick your bank.
Bottom line: There are no standouts here. The forecast is stubbornly poor, with the wrong swell direction and persistent cross-shore winds. For a spot that’s this inconsistent anyway, a blank run like this is more normal than you’d hope. It’s going to be a 16-day grind. Keep an eye on it, because forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be looking at other hobbies.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 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) | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 4 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | N 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
45 | 74 | 40 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 24 | 62 | 33 | 33 | 49 | 64 | 62 | 144 | 53 | 27 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:12PM6.68m | 9:35AM6.16m | 9:56PM6.29m | 10:19AM5.80m | 10:41PM5.83m | 11:06AM5.41m | 11:30PM5.36m | 11:58AM5.06m | 00:26AM4.96m | 12:59PM4.79m | 1:34AM4.70m | 2:11PM4.69m | 2:47AM4.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:37AM0.50m | 3:51PM0.75m | 4:20AM0.88m | 4:35PM1.14m | 5:03AM1.30m | 5:22PM1.54m | 5:51AM1.71m | 6:16PM1.91m | 6:48AM2.03m | 7:21PM2.15m | 7:57AM2.20m | 8:37PM2.21m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | |
— | 9:22 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:15 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | N 6 | N 5 | W 9 | N 4 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NNW 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | N 4 | NNW 4 | W 8 | W 8 |
11 | 4 | 40 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 22 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 12 | W 7 | W 7 | W 12 | WNW 11 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | W 7 | SW 16 | W 16 | W 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 14 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 13 | — |
5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 7 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 21 | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 18 | W 8 | SW 16 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | — | SW 13 |
— | 9 | 2 | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | — | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 6 | SE 2 | — | N 4 | — | N 5 | N 6 | — | N 5 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | — | — | N 3 | NNW 3 |
45 | 74 | 2 | — | 9 | — | 17 | 62 | — | 28 | 49 | 64 | 62 | 144 | 53 | 27 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 552 | 48 | 390 | 302 | 390 | 386 | 732 | 386 | 20 | 56 | 320 | 399 | 287 | 254 | 46 | 526 | 477 | 506 | 804 | 403 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North 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 Harlyn Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Harlyn provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Harlyn can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Harlyn 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 (Harlyn) 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 Harlyn 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.
Harlyn is 6 km (4 miles) from Padstow. If you plan a holiday in North Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in Padstow. Padstow has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.









