Surf Forecasts:
Harlyn surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, W swell with 781 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Harlyn this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Harlyn in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Harlyn over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, same story but in feet and Fahrenheit for the old school crew.
Harlyn is a frustrating watch for the first week and a half. The ocean’s warm – about 67°F – which is much warmer than normal for August, so that’s the only treat if you’re just floating. But the surf? Garbage.
From Sunday the 16th right through to Thursday the 27th, it’s a dead run. Ten days of poor conditions. Tiny swell – knee to waist high, occasionally hitting about 4 ft on Tuesday the 18th morning, but the wind’s cross-shore and making a mess. Even when the swell jumps to 5 ft to 7 ft around Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th, the wind stays fresh and cross-onshore, lumpy as hell. The wave energy hits a strong 670 on Thursday morning (August 20), but it’s blown out – more of a kiteboarding day than a surf session.
The one real standout is Friday morning, August 28th at Harlyn. Swell hits 6 ft from the WSW, 9-second period, and the wind goes light cross-offshore from the SSW (6 mph). The report says “clean” and the energy is solid 453. That’s the morning to paddle out – shoulder to head-high, clean faces, light wind. Crowds are _often_ here, so bring your patience, but the quality is legit.
Saturday the 29th brings a 6 ft swell from the WNW with a longer 11-second period – strong energy at 750 – but the cross-on wind (15 mph) messes it up; choppy and lumpy. That’s for experienced surfers only, and the long period might make the sandbars weird.
The last two days (30th and 31st) drop to 2 ft to 3 ft with strong cross-offshore winds (22 to 31 mph) that keep the surface glassy, but the swell is too weak to ride – energy numbers at 68 and 47. Not worth it.
So the only play is Friday morning, August 28th. That’s the one. Everything else is a write-off.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 17°C on Sun afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the N by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | N 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 8 | 58 | 121 | 92 | 134 | 88 | 160 | 293 | 427 | 754 | 586 | 552 | 275 | 130 | 74 | 45 | 21 | 49 | 33 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:41PM6.78m | 9:00AM6.37m | 9:19PM6.35m | 9:38AM5.98m | 9:57PM5.84m | 10:17AM5.52m | 10:38PM5.30m | 11:01AM5.06m | 11:28PM4.80m | 11:59AM4.65m | 00:39AM4.43m | 1:23PM4.42m | 2:13AM4.35m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:00AM0.40m | 3:13PM0.60m | 3:35AM0.82m | 3:50PM1.03m | 4:11AM1.29m | 4:29PM1.50m | 4:51AM1.77m | 5:16PM1.96m | 5:43AM2.20m | 6:22PM2.34m | 7:02AM2.49m | 7:57PM2.48m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 5 |
| kJ | 16 | 8 | 58 | 121 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 552 | 275 | 130 | 74 | 45 | 17 | 25 | 33 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | — | W 9 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 40 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 49 | 30 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 18 | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 11 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | 7 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 4 | — | — | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | — | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | E 2 | ESE 3 | — |
| kJ | — | 8 | — | — | 92 | 134 | 88 | 160 | 293 | 427 | 754 | 586 | — | 10 | 37 | 31 | 17 | 1 | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 348 | 237 | 245 | 227 | 305 | 253 | 254 | 305 | 530 | 227 | 521 | 127 | 227 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 207 | 56 | 32 | 47 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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