Surf Forecasts:
Harlyn surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, W swell with 857 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Harlyn this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Harlyn in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Harlyn over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m looking at the charts for the next 16 days and honestly, it’s a pretty grim outlook for this stretch. The only break showing up on the finder is Harlyn, and the guidance rates it low for a reason. It’s a beginner-friendly, sheltered spot, but it’s inconsistent and often crowded. The water temp is sitting at 67°F - that’s a solid 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be surfing in a shorty.
The first proper surfable energy doesn’t show up until the morning of Tuesday the 19th of August, with a 4ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore, and the wave comment is "poor surf conditions." The combined energy is only 130 (moderate wave energy), but it’s not clean. That pretty much sets the tone for the whole first week. Through the 19th and 20th, the swell gets bigger, hitting 7ft by Wednesday afternoon and 8ft on Thursday morning, with combined energy climbing into the 300s and 600s, but the wind is fresh cross-shore or cross-onshore, making it a messy, lumpy, choppy deal. For a sheltered spot like Harlyn, any swell over 5ft is already pushing it for beginners, and over 8ft it’s expert-only, but with this wind, it’s honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
There’s a real gap from the 21st through the 26th of August, where most days have tiny swell under 3ft and poor wind, just a few clean moments on the 26th with cross-offshore winds, but the swell is only 1.0ft to 1ft. Not worth paddling out for.
The best window in the whole forecast comes around the 31st of August. Monday morning, the 31st, we see a 7ft swell from the west, with a period of 8 seconds, combined energy of 545 (moderate wave energy), and a light onshore breeze. The wave comment is “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” but it’s the closest thing to a standout. The 7ft is expert territory, and the period is short, so it’ll be a bit crumbly. Still, it’s the only day where the energy is high and the wind isn’t totally wrecking it. Monday afternoon drops to 5ft with a longer 9-second period, but the wind stays onshore.
Overall, it’s a tough 16 days. Most of the time, the surf is poor, and the few moments of energy are blown out. If you’re desperate, keep an eye on the 31st of August, but don’t expect magic.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sun night, fresh winds from the WNW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Fri morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 7 | NW 5 | W 8 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 16 | 8 | 50 | 99 | 79 | 115 | 85 | 155 | 285 | 439 | 857 | 691 | 647 | 297 | 124 | 62 | 65 | 101 | 71 | 69 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | 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 | 2:37PM0.26m | 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 | ||||||||
6:07 | — | — | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 16 | W 8 | SW 17 | SW 17 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | W 9 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 |
17 | 16 | 8 | 50 | 99 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 20 | 297 | 124 | 31 | 65 | 33 | 11 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | W 18 | — | WNW 9 | SW 18 | — | SW 17 | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 15 |
6 | 7 | — | 26 | 12 | — | 11 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 18 | 21 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | — |
— | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 21 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | N 4 | WNW 4 | — | — | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | N 5 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | N 4 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 |
9 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 79 | 115 | 85 | 155 | 285 | 439 | 857 | 691 | 647 | 25 | 40 | 62 | 13 | 101 | 71 | 69 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 246 | 401 | 232 | 281 | 416 | 227 | 127 | 923 | 410 | 245 | 596 | 336 | 521 | 532 | 57 | 57 | 400 | 57 | 246 | 230 | 230 |
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.










