Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, W swell with 2,344 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Poldhu Cove this week:
The surf forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Poldhu Cove in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Poldhu Cove. Honest truth, this 16-day window is looking grim. The wind is just a constant problem – mostly onshore or cross-onshore – and whenever the swell gets some size, the conditions are so choppy and messy it’s not worth the paddle. The water is about 64°F right now, which is a touch warmer than usual for the time of year, so that’s a small plus.
Kicking off Saturday the 29th, we’ve got a 12ft groundswell from the WSW, but with 28 mph winds from the west, it’s a total washout – onshore wind and a mess. The combined wave energy is a huge 1926, but it’s all for nothing. Sunday the 30th is onshore wind again, with swell from 5ft to 8ft, but it’s rain-showers and fresh breezes – just poor surf. Monday the 31st is a tease. The swell is 8ft from the west, with a 10-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and bumpy. The energy is solid at 1391, but the “marginal” rating and lumpy cross-chop mean it’s not worth it. The rest of the first week is the same story: onshore winds, chop, and poor surf. The wave energy stays under 1000 for most of it – weak and messy.
The second week doesn’t get any better. The best shot is on the morning of the 6th of September, when we get a brief window of light offshore wind from the southeast and clean conditions. But the swell is just 4ft, and the energy is a weak 230 – it’s small and weak. The rest of the week is more of the same: strong winds, lumpy seas, and poor surf. The energy spikes again on the 12th of September (Saturday) with a massive 15ft west swell and a combined energy of 4549, but the wind is 22 mph cross-onshore – that’s a close-out for experts only. The day after, the 13th, is cross-shore and lumpy with a 7ft swell, but it’s still a mess.
Because Poldhu Cove is a fairly exposed beach, and the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The long period swells (over 10 seconds) we see are prone to breaking straight with the cross-chop, and the beach break isn’t going to hold any shape. There are no standouts here. This is a long, blank run of poor conditions. It’s a tough stretch, but that’s how it goes here sometimes. Forecasts can change, but for now, keep the boards in the van.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sat afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Tue afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1926 | 878 | 347 | 866 | 2251 | 1391 | 943 | 470 | 225 | 150 | 134 | 195 | 494 | 630 | 629 | 659 | 2224 | 1089 | 2202 | 1048 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:28PM4.87m | 6:45AM4.70m | 7:00PM4.94m | 7:18AM4.75m | 7:34PM4.92m | 7:53AM4.71m | 8:11PM4.78m | 8:31AM4.57m | 8:52PM4.54m | 9:15AM4.34m | 9:40PM4.21m | 10:08AM4.04m | 10:41PM3.85m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:13AM0.08m | 1:26PM0.12m | 1:48AM0.06m | 2:01PM0.14m | 2:23AM0.14m | 2:39PM0.26m | 3:01AM0.32m | 3:19PM0.46m | 3:43AM0.58m | 4:06PM0.73m | 4:32AM0.90m | 5:02PM1.02m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 7:59 | — |
mm | — | — | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 9 | W 9 | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | W 12 | SSW 14 | W 11 |
| kJ | — | 878 | 347 | — | — | 1391 | 943 | 470 | 225 | 150 | 10 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 45 | 22 | 1074 | 20 | 1048 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 18 | SW 17 | S 11 | S 10 | — | S 18 | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | SSW 14 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | — | — | — | 20 | — | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | — | — | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | — | SSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 12 | — |
| kJ | 1926 | — | 118 | 866 | 2251 | — | — | — | — | — | 134 | 195 | 494 | 630 | 629 | 659 | 2224 | 1089 | 2202 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 177 | 23 | 417 | 523 | 181 | 192 | 168 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 739 | 188 | 200 | 483 | 192 | 192 | 260 | 167 | 13 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Poldhu Cove Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Poldhu Cove provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Poldhu Cove can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Poldhu Cove 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 (Poldhu Cove) 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 Poldhu Cove 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.
Poldhu Cove is 12 km (7 miles) from The Lizard. If you plan a holiday in South Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in The Lizard. The Lizard has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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