Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, W swell with 669 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
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 table for Poldhu Cove over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch.
Straight up, the whole 16-day window is looking grim. The first proper sniff of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Thursday, 27 August, and even then it’s just barely a tickle. Before that, from now through Wednesday, 26 August, it’s a solid bust. The swell is there at times, but the wind is just wrecking it. On Thursday, 20 August, you’ve got a 7ft swell from the west, but with a fresh 19 mph cross-shore from the NW, it’s just lumpy, messy junk. The wave energy is moderate (783), but it’s blown out. Not worth a paddle.
Then we get a few days of tiny, clean waves from Friday, 21 August, into Monday, 24 August, but the swell sizes are pitiful – 1.0ft to 4ft. The wind is light and cross-offshore, which would normally be a dream, but the swell is just too weak. The combined energy drops right off, getting as low as 31 (weak) by Monday afternoon. It’s flat, clean, and boring.
The surf picks up again on Wednesday, 26 August, with a 5ft to 5ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, and the period is short (7-8 seconds). The energy is moderate (292 to 431), but the quality is poor. Not one for the log.
Finally, on Thursday, 27 August, we get a slightly better window. The morning and afternoon both show a 3ft to 3ft west swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is a light, cross-offshore breeze from the NNW. The water’s a touch warmer than normal at 66°F, which is a nice bonus. The combined energy is 259 to 287, so it’s moderate. Conditions are described as “clean” and “surfable.” It’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s still marginal – a score of 1 out of 10 tells you it’s nothing to write home about. This is a spot for the die-hard local who just wants a few crumbly lines on the inside.
Friday, 28 August, the wind swings back onshore and strong, with a 6ft to 8ft swell, but it’s messy and lumpy again. The energy is strong (512 to 652), but it’s a kite-surfing show, not a paddle session. That trend continues right through to the end of the forecast, with onshore winds and choppy, poor conditions, even as the swell drops off.
The final faint glimmer is on Friday, 4 September. The morning shows a 5ft west swell with a 9-second period, light cross-offshore wind, and clean conditions. Combined energy is moderate at 422. It’s another marginal call, but it’s the only other day that even gets a score of 1 out of 10. Way out there, so don’t hold your breath.
Bottom line: There’s no standout day here. The absolute best on offer is Thursday, 27 August, for a super-session of small, clean, but ordinary waves. If you’re desperate, that’s your window. Otherwise, the rest of the period is a write-off with strong, messy winds and blown-out surf. This is a tough run for Poldhu Cove.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 17°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon afternoon, light winds from the SW by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | WSW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | W 10 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
763 | 470 | 185 | 140 | 51 | 52 | 26 | 42 | 38 | 46 | 47 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 33 | 48 | 60 | 231 | 303 | 201 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:06PM3.49m | 11:42AM3.40m | 00:25AM3.26m | 1:09PM3.29m | 1:52AM3.23m | 2:28PM3.38m | 3:01AM3.38m | 3:28PM3.62m | 3:53AM3.62m | 4:14PM3.91m | 4:34AM3.89m | 4:52PM4.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:07PM1.34m | 5:31AM1.50m | 6:05PM1.62m | 6:38AM1.72m | 7:29PM1.75m | 8:12AM1.74m | 9:05PM1.64m | 9:33AM1.53m | 10:08PM1.35m | 10:25AM1.22m | 10:53PM1.02m | 11:06AM0.90m | 11:30PM0.70m | |||||||
— | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | NW 6 | W 9 | E 5 | ESE 5 | SSW 14 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | E 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SSW 8 |
20 | 470 | 185 | 140 | 25 | 52 | 21 | 7 | 38 | 10 | 23 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 33 | 70 | 60 | 55 | 69 | 151 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 8 | NNW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SSW 14 | WSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | W 10 | E 5 | SW 12 | W 11 | W 9 |
— | 18 | 17 | 17 | 51 | 3 | 26 | 26 | 14 | 46 | 47 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 48 | 9 | 6 | 37 | 201 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WNW 7 | SSW 15 | NW 4 | W 8 | SSW 14 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 8 | SW 13 | — | W 11 | ESE 4 |
— | — | 5 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 42 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 26 | 6 | — | 22 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | NNE 3 | NNW 3 | N 5 | ENE 2 | — | N 3 | E 4 | — | — | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SSW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SE 4 |
763 | — | 3 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | 215 | 460 | 515 | 173 | 1 | 59 | 231 | 303 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 189 | 0 | 89 | 212 | 0 | 23 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 224 | 168 | 165 | 165 | 32 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











