
Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, WNW swell with 533 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. 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 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee, because I’ve had a proper look at the charts for Poldhu Cove, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, but finding a clean, proper wave is going to take some patience.
The water is running at 68°, which is over three degrees warmer than usual for this time of year – very unusual, you’ll be in a spring suit.
Right off the bat, Sunday the 26th is a write-off. We’ve got a lumpy 8ft cross-shore mess. That wave energy reading of 622 is telling you it’s churned up, not surfable.
The whole first week is pretty grim. Monday the 27th through to the following Saturday morning, August 1st, it’s all poor surf conditions. On Saturday morning, there’s a tiny 2ft wave with clean conditions, but it’s barely a ripple.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. On Sunday morning, August 2nd, we get a bit of a window. The wind goes glassy, truly glassy, and we’ve got 4ft of swell from the WSW. The period is a middling 9 seconds and the energy (252) is moderate. It’s surfable, but you’ve got to get out early. That glassy wind won't last; by the afternoon, a 12 mph cross-onshore kills it, making it choppy again. So mark your calendar for dawn on the 2nd – that’s your best realistic bet.
The week after that doesn’t get much kinder. A lot of messy, onshore, or small waves. There’s a moment on Thursday afternoon, August 6th, where the wind is clean and cross-off, with a 7ft swell pushing in. It’s a short period (6 seconds) though, so it’s going to be a bit fat and soft, and the cross-off wind might make it walled up.
Then we hit the big one. Friday the 7th of August is a monster swell event, 12ft and 10 seconds of raw power. The energy is a staggering 2746. But the problem is the wind is howling onshore at 15 mph, turning it into a total washing machine. That’s only for experts or kite surfers, not a paddle session.
The real stand-out in the whole 16-day run is actually Saturday morning, August 8th. We’ve still got a solid 10ft groundswell from the WNW with that long 10-second period, meaning it’ll have proper shape and power (2856 energy). The wind is a clean cross-off from the NNW at 22 mph. It's strong, but it's clean. This is big, powerful surf for experienced surfers who can handle a heavy wave. It’s the best quality on offer by a mile, despite the crowd potential. If you want a proper, clean wave, that’s your session.
So to wrap it up: the glassy dawn on August 2nd for a fun, easy-going session, but the heavy, clean beast on the morning of August 8th is the one to point your board at.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
620 | 533 | 505 | 380 | 273 | 192 | 141 | 110 | 80 | 71 | 68 | 50 | 115 | 189 | 131 | 107 | 146 | 64 | 33 | 22 | 39 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:44PM3.73m | 4:08AM3.71m | 4:31PM3.94m | 4:51AM3.89m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:31PM1.27m | 10:49AM1.16m | 11:16PM1.02m | 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 | ||||||||
5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 12 | WNW 9 | W 9 | S 16 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | S 13 | S 11 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 11 |
2 | 3 | 505 | 380 | 5 | 192 | 141 | 110 | 80 | 71 | 68 | 50 | — | 3 | 2 | 107 | 146 | 64 | 33 | 22 | 39 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | ESE 4 | — | S 13 | — | — | S 12 | S 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 6 |
— | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 11 | S 14 | — | — | S 5 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 7 |
— | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | WSW 3 | W 4 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
620 | 533 | — | — | 273 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 115 | 189 | 131 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 715 | 739 | 107 | 191 | 192 | 13 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 24 | 419 | 527 | 192 | 192 | 189 | 29 | 587 | 8 | 11 | 256 | 252 |
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.










