Surf Forecasts:
Harlyn surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, W swell with 557 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Harlyn this week:
The surf forecast for Harlyn over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Harlyn in the next 16 days are 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Harlyn over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at what’s going on. To be straight with you, the next sixteen days are looking pretty grim for a proper surf. The only break we’ve got to talk about is Harlyn, and it’s a sheltered little beginner spot that’s inconsistent and doesn’t fire often. For the first week, there’s just nothing doing. From Friday the 21st right through to the end of the month, the energy is weak to moderate at best, but the wind is a mess – mostly onshore or cross-onshore – and the wave comment is consistently “poor surf conditions.” You’d be paddling for nothing.
There is a long gap here, nearly a week, where it’s not worth even looking at the water. The only time things start to change is at the very tail end of the month. On Saturday the 29th, we finally get a bit of size, with the swell bumping up to 7ft from the west, period 8 seconds. The combined swell energy hits 638 (moderate to strong), and the wind swings cross-offshore for the afternoon, cleaning it up. But Harlyn is a sheltered, beginner-friendly reef setup, and with that size, it’s going to be too big for novices and only really interesting for experienced surfers. Crowds are often an issue here, so expect company if it’s working. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
Sunday the 30th morning offers a small window: offshore wind (SSW at 16 mph), a 5ft swell from the west, period 8 seconds, and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (221), but it’s surfable despite being “very ordinary.” Still, the break is inconsistent and it’s a Monday by the time the next glimpse of potential appears, but the wind is strong and cross-off again.
Beyond that, into the first week of September, it all fades back to tiny, weak surf with onshore or cross-onshore winds – 2ft to 3ft and barely any energy. Come Friday the 4th of September, the swell drops to 0.7ft with a long period of 14 seconds from the WSW, but that long period at a beach setup like Harlyn will just break too straight. There’s barely a ripple.
So, to sum it up: there are no standout days here. If you’re desperate, Saturday the 29th of August afternoon has the most power, but it’s only for the brave or the experts, and it’s not going to be clean all day. For everyone else, it’s a long blank run that’s pretty normal for this sheltered spot. Keep an eye on the forecasts, ’cause it tends not to stay this poor forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sun night, strong winds from the ESE by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
119 | 90 | 32 | 65 | 39 | 24 | 19 | 45 | 38 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 31 | 27 | 75 | 105 | 132 | 104 | 67 | 557 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:59AM4.65m | 00:39AM4.43m | 1:23PM4.42m | 2:13AM4.35m | 2:55PM4.54m | 3:34AM4.59m | 4:02PM4.90m | 4:28AM4.98m | 4:48PM5.36m | 5:09AM5.41m | 5:26PM5.81m | 5:44AM5.82m | 6:00PM6.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:43AM2.20m | 6:22PM2.34m | 7:02AM2.49m | 7:57PM2.48m | 8:40AM2.46m | 9:27PM2.28m | 9:54AM2.15m | 10:26PM1.90m | 10:44AM1.73m | 11:10PM1.46m | 11:23AM1.30m | 11:46PM1.04m | 11:57AM0.90m | 00:19AM0.68m | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 5 | N 5 | W 9 | W 9 | N 4 | SW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | NE 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | SW 12 |
119 | 90 | 15 | 27 | 39 | 24 | 5 | 45 | 38 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 31 | 27 | 39 | 33 | 132 | 104 | 67 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 8 | W 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | W 9 | W 9 | N 4 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WNW 10 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | W 8 | — |
7 | 7 | 32 | 65 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 88 | 79 | 57 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 13 | WSW 15 | SW 12 | — | WSW 14 | W 10 | WSW 14 | N 4 | SW 9 | NW 11 | SW 8 | NNE 5 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — |
10 | 10 | 7 | 22 | 6 | — | 19 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | — | N 5 | N 4 | — | N 4 | — | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | E 3 | ESE 3 | S 4 | SSE 2 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | SSW 3 | S 3 | — | W 10 |
55 | 33 | 12 | — | 19 | 14 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 75 | 105 | 3 | 3 | — | 557 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 69 | 246 | 48 | 2 | 68 | 48 | 56 | 20 | 2 | 380 | 146 | 222 | 214 | 220 | 30 | 230 | 214 | 3 | 14 | 386 | 9 |
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.










