
Surf Forecasts:
Harlyn surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, N swell with 199 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Harlyn this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Harlyn in the next 16 days are 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Harlyn over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s be honest from the start — the next couple of weeks at Harlyn are gonna be a right struggle for surf. The data only shows this one break, no other options popped up, so it’s Harlyn or nothing. It’s a sheltered little nook that needs a good swell out of the west-northwest, but the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore the whole time, and the waves stay small.
Water temperature is about 64°F right now, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. Feels nice if you’re just floating around, but it won’t help the waves.
First up, Friday 17th afternoon: a tiny 0.3m of west swell with a short 8-second period — that’s barely a ripple. Wind’s from the north at 16 mph straight onshore. Combined energy is only 27. Not worth paddling out.
Saturday 18th: no chance. Wind bumps up to 19 mph, swell hits 1.2m from the north-northwest with a horrible 5-second period. That’s just choppy junk.
Sunday 19th morning gives a glimmer — east wind at 6 mph, which is cross-offshore, but there’s only 0.7m of northerly swell at 6 seconds. The surface would be clean but there’s no punch. Combined energy 39. You could bob around, but that’s it.
Monday 20th through Friday 24th is a long run of small, onshore mush. Swell between 0.1m and 1.4m, mostly from the north with periods of 5-6 seconds, wind from the north or north-northwest at 9 to 22 mph. Wednesday afternoon hits 1.4m with combined energy climbing to 138 — moderate energy — but the wind is onshore at 22 mph. Still poor.
The closest thing to a recommendation would be Thursday 23rd morning: 1.1m of north swell at 6 seconds, wind light from the north at 9 mph. Energy is 97, so it’s weak. That’s the cleanest wind window of the whole period, but waves won’t have any shape. If you’re a beginner wanting to catch a foam ball, it’s okay.
From Sunday 26th into Monday 27th, the swell picks up. By Monday we’re looking at 2.1m to 2.2m from the west-northwest with period hitting 7-8 seconds. Combined energy jumps to 397 and 514 — that’s strong stuff. But the wind stays cross-onshore from the northwest at 16 mph, so it’ll be choppy. The size looks tasty from the beach, but it’s messy for paddle surfing. Kite surfers would be stoked on that cross-onshore and the bigger faces.
Tuesday 28th still has 1.9m of swell in the morning with north-northwest wind at 12 mph, energy at 395. Still not clean.
Then it drops off again Wednesday 29th: 1.0m, energy 140, wind still onshore.
The very last morning of the window, Saturday 1st August, shows 1.5m from the west-northwest, period 6 seconds, wind from the north-northwest at 12 mph. Onshore again. Energy at 170. Same story — size but no quality.
So, bottom line: there is no standout session. Not one day with clean offshore wind and decent swell together. There’s a stretch of over a week with nothing worth paddling for, and when the size finally shows up around 2m, the wind wrecks it. Harlyn is inconsistent at the best of times, and this run looks like it’s just not happening.
Stick it out — forecasts can shift, and it doesn’t usually stay this flat for long. But for now, leave your board on the rack and don’t get your hopes up.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri night, min 15°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Tue morning, fresh winds from the N by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
28 | 78 | 77 | 33 | 15 | 18 | 29 | 40 | 49 | 40 | 43 | 47 | 65 | 74 | 199 | 62 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:52AM6.45m | 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 | 3:08PM0.43m | 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 | ||||||||
5:26 | — | — | 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 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 6 | W 7 | W 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | N 5 | NNW 4 | W 8 | W 8 |
12 | 11 | 4 | 33 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 24 | 38 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | W 7 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 16 | W 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 14 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — |
5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 12 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | — | W 21 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 18 | W 16 | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | N 5 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
1 | — | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | ESE 2 | N 5 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | — | — | N 3 | — |
28 | 78 | 77 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 29 | 40 | 49 | 40 | 43 | 47 | 65 | 74 | 199 | 62 | 24 | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 400 | 552 | 48 | 390 | 56 | 387 | 385 | 387 | 262 | 2 | 56 | 320 | 320 | 227 | 254 | 48 | 520 | 472 | 399 | 416 | 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.









