Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, WSW swell with 2,887 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Poldhu Cove in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4PM. 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+) | 7AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what Poldhu Cove has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you, mate – this stretch of coast is in for a rough ride. The swell is going to be pumping at times, but the wind gods are having a laugh, and most of it is going to be a messy, blown-out write-off.
Kicking off Friday morning, the 28th of August, there’s a 3 ft swell from the WSW but it’s getting belted by a 16 mph cross-onshore. The water’s got a bit of energy behind it (112), but it’s choppy and poor. It gets worse through the weekend. Saturday the 29th sees the swell jump to 8 ft from the SW, but with a 37 mph onshore gale, it’s a total mess (energy reading 662). By the afternoon, it’s 13 ft and getting absolutely destroyed. Sunday isn’t much better – 7 ft with a fresh onshore breeze. This is all blown out, not worth paddling out.
Monday the 31st of August shows a bit of a change. The swell drops to 10 ft from the west, and the wind swings to a cross-shore at 19 mph. The energy is serious (1507), but the notes say it’s marginal at best. Too much lumpy chop. Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd are flat and small, with 3-4 ft waves and still messy. Nothing to get excited about.
Now, look at the 4th of September – Friday. We’ve got a 7 ft swell from the west with a 15-second period, which is proper long-period groundswell. That kind of period at a beach break like Poldhu can make it close out, but the energy is strong (1627). The problem? A 19 mph cross-onshore wind. It’s going to be lumpy and tough. Not a beginner’s wave (over 5 ft).
Saturday the 5th of September morning is the closest we get to a decent window. The swell drops to 4 ft from the west, still a nice 11-second period, and the wind goes light and cross-shore. Only 6 mph. For the first time, it might actually look clean. The energy is moderate (421), and it’s still described as marginal, but that’s your best bet in this whole two-week run.
From the 7th of September onwards, it dries right up. The 8th of September Tuesday morning has tiny 3 ft waves with clean offshore winds, but it’s weak (76). A proper flat spell sets in. Then, on the 9th of September, it tries to kick back up, but with a 16 mph onshore wind and short period swell, it’s back to poor form. The 10th of September has another big, powerful swell (8 ft, energy 1157) but a near-gale is on it. That’s kite-surfing territory, not for a paddle board. It fades out weak and messy through the 11th and 12th.
Honestly, the only day that stands out at Poldhu Cove is Saturday the 5th of September in the morning. The wind is light, the swell has some shape to it, and it’s not a complete washing machine. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too big and blown out. It’s a tough run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Thu night, near gales from the SW by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun night, light winds from the NW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
80 | 177 | 152 | 662 | 2887 | 1070 | 616 | 750 | 2375 | 1507 | 918 | 464 | 229 | 148 | 130 | 138 | 118 | 131 | 409 | 470 | 522 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:42AM4.38m | 5:57PM4.71m | 6:13AM4.57m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:16PM0.37m | 00:39AM0.21m | 12:51PM0.20m | 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 | ||||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | 16 | 6 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | WSW 9 | W 9 | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | W 14 |
27 | 24 | 13 | — | — | 1070 | 516 | — | — | 1507 | 918 | 464 | 229 | 148 | 130 | 138 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 239 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — | SSW 15 |
5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 23 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | — | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 10 | S 10 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 10 | — | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
80 | 177 | 152 | 662 | 2887 | — | 616 | 750 | 2375 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 118 | 131 | 409 | 470 | 522 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 254 | 188 | 577 | 276 | 189 | 68 | 125 | 523 | 530 | 192 | 168 | 22 | 23 | 189 | 183 | 13 | 22 | 189 | 45 | 189 | 200 |
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.











