
Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, SW swell with 527 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with WNW 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. 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 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 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’s on the menu for Poldhu Cove over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, slow start with barely a ripple for the first week. The first real chance of a wave doesn’t show up until Wednesday afternoon, the 5th of August, and even then it’s a pretty ordinary affair. You’ll be looking at a solid gap of over a week with nothing worth paddling out for.
The water at Poldhu Cove is sitting at 67°F right now, which is a full 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s pretty unusual. It’s like a warm bath out there, but unfortunately, the waves aren’t matching the conditions.
Tuesday, July 28th – Forget it. We’ve got a tiny 3ft swell from the WNW with a short 9-second period, and a cross-on S wind at 9 mph making it a choppy mess. Wave energy is weak (144).
Wednesday, July 29th – Still nothing. Clean sky in the morning, but the swell drops to 2ft and the period shortens to 8 seconds. The wind swings onshore from the WSW at 6 mph, making it a no-go.
Thursday, July 30th – The swell bumps up a little to 4ft from the WNW, but the period is a shocking 6 seconds. A cross-shore wind from the NW at 12 mph keeps things bumpy and unappealing. Energy is moderate (112) but the quality is just not there.
Friday, July 31st – The morning is glassy with a 2ft swell from the WNW, but it’s just too weak to get excited about. Energy is a low 66. The afternoon turns choppy again.
Saturday, August 1st – A clean, cross-off wind in the afternoon from the NW at 16 mph, but the swell is tiny at 2ft. It’s a pretty sight, but not a surfing one.
Sunday, August 2nd – Another clean afternoon with a cross-off wind from the ESE at 9 mph, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft from the WSW. The period is a bit longer at 10 seconds, but there’s no power behind it.
Monday, August 3rd – We start to see a pulse. The afternoon brings a 6ft swell from the SW, but it’s a short 8-second period and the wind is onshore from the SSW at 16 mph. The combined energy jumps to 473 (moderate), but the poor conditions make it a washout.
Tuesday, August 4th – The swell drops to 5ft from the SW, still with a short period, and onshore winds keep it sloppy.
Wednesday, August 5th – This is the first time you could actually get wet. The afternoon shows a 4ft swell from the WNW with a 6-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the ENE. The energy is moderate (122), and the conditions are described as “surfable waves but very ordinary”. It’s not a standout, but it’s the only window we’ve had.
Thursday, August 6th – A bigger 5ft swell from the WNW with a 7-second period, but a cross-shore wind from the NW at 12 mph makes it choppy again.
Friday, August 7th – Back to tiny, weak waves.
Saturday, August 8th – Strong winds and tiny waves. Not worth it.
Sunday, August 9th – Here’s the one that might get your heart pumping if you’re a charger. The morning brings a 8ft swell from the W with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 1282 (very strong). But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore from the WNW at 19 mph, making it lumpy and messy. This is pushing into expert-only territory (over 8ft), and the wind is killing the quality. The afternoon drops to 6ft with a cross-shore wind, still lumpy.
Monday, August 10th – The afternoon shows a solid 7ft swell from the W with an 11-second period, giving us a very strong energy reading of 1211. But again, the wind is a fresh cross-shore from the NW at 22 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. This is a massive swell, but it’s being blown apart. It’s more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
The verdict: This is a rough forecast. The only real “standout” in terms of size is the 9th and 10th of August, but the wind is going to ruin it. If you’re desperate, the glassy window on Wednesday the 5th is your best bet for a clean, small wave. Otherwise, maybe take a break and let the forecasts change – they usually do. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue night, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 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) | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
141 | 106 | 103 | 73 | 71 | 111 | 77 | 46 | 77 | 60 | 18 | 30 | 57 | 57 | 35 | 23 | 52 | 75 | 99 | 473 | 522 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:12PM4.16m | 5:30AM4.07m | 5:48PM4.37m | 6:05AM4.22m | 6:22PM4.53m | 6:39AM4.34m | 6:55PM4.64m | 7:11AM4.41m | 7:27PM4.70m | 7:44AM4.43m | 8:01PM4.68m | 8:20AM4.41m | 8:37PM4.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:30AM0.92m | 11:55PM0.78m | 12:08PM0.69m | 00:32AM0.57m | 12:43PM0.51m | 1:07AM0.41m | 1:18PM0.40m | 1:41AM0.32m | 1:52PM0.35m | 2:16AM0.30m | 2:28PM0.38m | 2:52AM0.34m | 3:04PM0.47m | 3:29AM0.46m | |||||||
5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | S 5 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | E 6 | E 5 |
141 | 106 | 103 | 73 | 71 | 1 | 32 | 30 | 77 | 60 | 9 | 30 | 57 | 57 | 35 | 23 | 52 | 75 | 99 | 3 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 6 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 11 | W 12 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | W 6 | WNW 4 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | E 4 | — | — | — |
3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 7 | S 13 | S 13 | — | — | — | S 12 | SW 12 | — | — | — | NW 6 | W 11 | — | W 6 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WSW 2 | W 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | NW 5 | NNE 3 | E 3 | E 4 | — | SSW 4 | SW 8 | SW 8 |
— | — | — | — | 1 | 111 | 77 | 46 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | 3 | 6 | 13 | — | 11 | 473 | 522 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 23 | 0 | 24 | 189 | 189 | 719 | 231 | 0 | 8 | 231 | 231 | 13 | 29 | 106 | 31 | 24 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 23 |
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.










