Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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