Poldhu Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty quiet for Poldhu Cove. The first few days are basically a write-off with hardly any swell to speak of. We’ve got a long stretch of poor, tiny waves from Sunday the 19th right through to late in the week. Don’t bother getting the wetsuit wet until we get towards the start of August.

From Sunday the 19th through to Saturday the 25th, it’s mostly flat to knee-high at best. Sunday morning starts off clear with a 0.7ft west swell at a short 7 seconds. There’s a moderate cross-shore breeze from the SSE at 19 mph, making it a bumpy mess. That carries on through the day. Monday the 20th is similar – 0.7ft to 1ft west swell, but the period bumps up to 11 seconds on the morning session. That’s a longer period for such a tiny wave, but it’s still weak, with combined energy at only 16. The wind is light and offering clean conditions though, which is a tease. Tuesday morning the 21st sees a glassy 1ft west swell, period at 10 seconds, and the energy is still low at 31. It’s pretty as a picture but there’s just nothing to ride.

Wednesday the 22nd keeps the small stuff, 1ft to 1ft west swell, with clean cross-offshore winds. The energy is pathetic. Thursday the 23rd has the best combo of the early week: a glassy morning with 1ft west swell, 9-second period, total calm winds. It’s clean, but still only ankle-snappers.

Friday the 24th remains tiny, and the weekend of the 25th and 26th is a slow build but still poor. By Sunday the 26th, we see a slight bump to 3ft west-northwest swell, but the period drops right off to 6 seconds and the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph. The combined energy is only 68, and it’s described as “fresh cross-onshore and lumpy”. Not what we want.

The first real standout of the forecast comes on Monday the 27th. The morning sees 4ft west swell, 8 seconds, combined energy of 236 (moderate) – not huge, but there’s finally some push. Unfortunately, the wind is a moderate cross-shore from the west-northwest at 16 mph, so it’s going to be bumpy. By the afternoon, the swell builds to 5ft, period 9 seconds, energy up to 356, but winds swing lighter cross-shore. Still, this is the first window with proper size. It’s described as “marginal surf” though, with tide concerns possible.

The best on offer likely falls on Tuesday the 28th. The morning session gets a solid 7ft west-northwest swell, period 9 seconds, and an energy reading of 765 – that’s a serious push. Winds are cross-offshore from the northwest at 9 mph, giving clean conditions. That’s solid overhead stuff, but it’s pushing into the 8ft range, so this is for experienced surfers only. Beginners should stay out of the water. The swell direction (WNW) isn’t a perfect match for optimum SW, but it’s still a good wave for Poldhu Cove.

After that, it backs off quickly. Wednesday the 29th drops to 3ft, and the wind goes onshore again. The rest of the week and into the first of August stays small, weak, and wind-affected. The final few days from the 31st of July have a bit of energy with 2ft to 2ft west-northwest swell, combined energy around 155-163, and clean cross-offshore winds from the east, but they’re howling at 25-28 mph. That’s more of a windswell situation and is going to be gnarly. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of August see a small kick back up to 4ft to 5ft, but the wind is onshore and lumpy. Monday the 3rd fades again.

Water temperature is around average for this time of year. Poldhu Cove is a fairly exposed spot, but with this wind and swell combo, it’s not looking prime. It’s inconsistent here, and this forecast proves it – long gaps of nothing. But that Tuesday the 28th morning is the window for anyone wanting a proper session.

Rusty.

Read more