Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, W swell with 914 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with WSW 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Poldhu Cove has got cookin' for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – for the first week or so, it’s a proper write-off. From Sunday the 23rd of August right through to Saturday the 5th of September, the surf is just... no good. We’re lookin’ at tiny dribbles and a whole lot of wind messin’ things up. You’ll see days with a tiny 1ft swell from the SW, but the wind is just shredding it, and the wave energy is weak (72). Then it gets bigger around the 27th with 7ft from the SSW, but the wind is cross-onshore, making it a choppy mess. The wave energy picks up (552), but the quality is trash. Honestly, this stretch is a right washout. There’s a couple of days with a bit of size, like on the 29th with 8ft from the W, but again, cross-onshore wind and a messy sea state mean it’s not for paddling.
Then, after a long gap of nothing worth mentioning, we finally see a glimmer of hope on Sunday the 6th of September. This is the one that’s got my attention. The swell bumps up to 8ft from the W, with a period of 9 seconds. The wave energy is proper healthy at 1279. The winds are a gentle offshore from the N, which means *clean* conditions. This is our standout window. The surf won’t be perfect – it’s a bit of a groundswell period, so it might break a bit straight on the beach, but for Poldhu, this is the best look we get. It’s big enough to be a blast for anyone who knows what they’re doin’, but at over 8ft it’s firmly in the expert zone.
Looking further ahead to Monday the 7th of September, we see it gets even bigger, with a 12ft swell from the WSW and a big ol’ wave energy (1354). The wind is a fresh offshore cross-off, which would normally be a dream, but the file tells us it’s actually too big for the break. So, while it might be a sight to see, it’s not the one you wanna paddle out into unless you’re absolutely bomb-proof.
So there it is. A long dry spell, then a real standout window on Sunday the 6th of September with clean, powerful, expert-level surf. Water temp is sitting at 65°F, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is nice. The rest of the time, you’re better off takin’ the dog for a walk.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon morning, light winds from the S by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Wed night, calm by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | S 6 | SSW 8 | SW 9 | WSW 8 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
47 | 39 | 18 | 17 | 25 | 74 | 70 | 81 | 49 | 32 | 140 | 513 | 586 | 122 | 147 | 419 | 844 | 804 | 419 | 102 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:01AM3.38m | 3:28PM3.62m | 3:53AM3.62m | 4:14PM3.91m | 4:34AM3.89m | 4:52PM4.21m | 5:10AM4.15m | 5:25PM4.49m | 5:42AM4.38m | 5:57PM4.71m | 6:13AM4.57m | 6:28PM4.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:05PM1.64m | 9:33AM1.53m | 10:08PM1.35m | 10:25AM1.22m | 10:53PM1.02m | 11:06AM0.90m | 11:30PM0.70m | 11:42AM0.61m | 00:05AM0.42m | 12:16PM0.37m | 00:39AM0.21m | 12:51PM0.20m | 1:13AM0.08m | |||||||
— | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 12 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 6 | WNW 7 | SW 9 | WSW 8 | W 9 | SW 12 | — | — | S 11 | WNW 7 |
47 | 24 | 18 | 17 | 25 | 74 | 70 | 81 | 49 | 32 | 74 | 18 | 586 | 122 | 57 | 5 | — | — | 2 | 102 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | SSW 14 | SW 9 | W 9 | SSW 13 | SW 9 | SSW 8 | E 6 | SW 7 | SSW 7 | E 4 | WNW 10 | W 11 | SSW 7 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | SW 6 |
19 | 39 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 47 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 58 | 73 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 53 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | — | W 9 | SW 9 | W 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 8 | E 5 | SW 12 | W 8 | E 4 | E 4 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 |
6 | — | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 44 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 6 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 6 | SSW 8 | — | — | SW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | — |
25 | 65 | 374 | 628 | 446 | 246 | 153 | 3 | 18 | 25 | 140 | 513 | — | — | 147 | 419 | 844 | 804 | 419 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 8 | 400 | 188 | 172 | 58 | 165 | 23 | 24 | 106 | 168 | 67 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 68 | 37 | 200 | 168 | 22 |
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.











