
Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period, WSW swell with 343 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period. 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 1.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks around here. To be honest, the whole spread looks like a bit of a struggle. There’s swell coming and going, but the timing and the wind just aren’t playing ball. We’ve got a long gap of pretty ordinary conditions to start with before things get close to being fun.
Looking at the first few days, from Tuesday the 11th of August right through the weekend and into the following week, it’s mostly a write-off. Small waves, awkward winds, and a whole lot of “poor surf conditions” stamped on every session. You’d be fighting a cross-off or cross-shore breeze for scraps, and the swell is barely pushing 1 ft to 4 ft. That combined energy is weak to moderate at best, often sitting below 100 or just creeping above. Not the kind of thing you rush out for.
There’s a brief flicker on Thursday morning the 13th of August. Poldhu Cove sees a 4 ft swell from the WSW with a period of 11 seconds and a clean, cross-off wind from the NNW. The combined energy jumps to 344, which is decent energy for the size. But the rating still calls it marginal. The tide or something is off. You could paddle out and possibly snag a couple, but it’s not going to be a standout.
The real tease comes right at the tail end of the forecast. Monday the 24th of August afternoon shows a sudden jump: 7 ft from the west, period of 8 seconds, combined energy hits 585 – that's strong energy. But the wind is a powerful cross-off from the north at 25 mph, and it’s still marked as “poor surf conditions.” That’s big, unruly, and blown out. Only experts would even think about it, and even then, it’d be messy.
Then on Tuesday the 25th of August morning, we get a 5 ft west swell, period of 8 seconds, combined energy at 306, and a fresh cross-off breeze from the northwest. Again, “poor surf conditions.” The waves are there, but the quality just isn’t.
Honestly, there isn’t a single true standout in this whole 16-day window. The best I can say is that the period around the 24th and 25th of August has the most size and energy, but the wind and conditions are against it. For a spot like Poldhu Cove that’s fairly exposed to SW swells, the direction is okay, but the wind is the killer. Keep an eye on the forecasts; these things can shift. But as it stands, there’s no day I’d be marking on the calendar.
The water temperature is sitting at 66°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re getting skunked.
Alright, that’s the honest truth of it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 7 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 119 | 131 | 144 | 185 | 343 | 290 | 220 | 160 | 126 | 165 | 127 | 98 | 55 | 25 | 36 | 15 | 8 | 64 | 72 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:29PM4.57m | 4:56AM4.47m | 5:19PM4.87m | 5:44AM4.68m | 6:04PM5.07m | 6:27AM4.80m | 6:46PM5.14m | 7:08AM4.81m | 7:27PM5.07m | 7:48AM4.72m | 8:06PM4.88m | 8:26AM4.54m | 8:45PM4.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:22PM0.27m | 11:41AM0.23m | 00:10AM-0.02m | 12:27PM0.00m | 00:54AM-0.19m | 1:09PM-0.10m | 1:35AM-0.21m | 1:49PM-0.07m | 2:14AM-0.09m | 2:28PM0.09m | 2:52AM0.15m | 3:06PM0.34m | 3:28AM0.47m | |||||||
— | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 |
18 | 119 | 131 | 144 | 185 | 343 | 290 | 220 | 160 | 126 | 165 | 127 | 98 | 55 | 25 | 36 | 15 | 8 | 64 | 72 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 6 | SW 12 | SW 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | — | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | WSW 8 | E 5 | — | WNW 4 | S 18 | E 3 |
7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 2 | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SW 12 | SW 6 | SW 5 | — | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 11 | S 13 | — | — | S 20 | — | S 18 | S 18 | W 10 | — | S 16 |
1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 7 | — | 7 | 6 | 7 | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | — | WNW 4 | — | N 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNE 3 | NNW 2 | N 3 | — | — | NE 4 |
10 | 43 | 39 | 43 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 13 | — | 19 | 34 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 170 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 191 | 23 | 29 | 231 | 13 | 190 | 190 | 201 | 416 | 231 | 523 | 354 | 295 | 0 |
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.











