Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, W swell with 1,633 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with SW 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Poldhu Cove in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let's have a look at what's on offer for Poldhu Cove.
To be straight with you, the next sixteen days are a tough watch for a surfer. We've got a real flat spell to kick things off and the whole outlook is dominated by messy winds and lumpy conditions. There's no period of clean, quality surf to get excited about.
Saturday the 22nd starts off small with a clean 2ft W swell, but the cross-off wind keeps it from being anything special. The combined wave energy is a weak 74, and the water's sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. It's surfable, but only just.
After that, we hit a rough patch. From Saturday afternoon right through to Tuesday the 26th, the swell stays tiny, rarely cracking 2ft, and the wind is either a fresh breeze or worse, blowing cross or cross-on. You'll see a bit more energy on the 26th with a 4ft SSW swell, but it's a short-period windswell at 7 seconds and the wind is cross-on, making for choppy, poor conditions.
Then we get a size jump, but it's no good for us. From Thursday the 27th onwards, the swell picks up, with heights hitting 8ft on the Thursday morning. The combined swell energy is a strong 1015, but it's buried under strong onshore wind – 19 mph from the SW that morning and then near gale force from the WNW on Friday the 28th. This is going to be blown out and messy. For a beach break like Poldhu Cove, this setup would actually look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The pattern continues through the end of August and into September. We see some larger swells, like 10ft on the 30th with a light cross-on wind, and a 6ft W swell on the 5th of September with a long 11-second period, but the wind is always on it, either cross-on or straight onshore. The wave comment consistently reads "poor surf conditions".
The long-range stuff, like that 6ft W swell with 11-second period on the 5th, could sound promising, but with a near gale force WSW wind on the afternoon, it's a total washout. There's just no window where the stars align here.
In short, there's nothing worth paddling out for over this entire period. The consistency is awful and the conditions are working against us every single time. It's one of those blank runs you get here – forecasts can change, but right now I'd keep the board in the van.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Tue morning, light winds from the S by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | WSW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
53 | 26 | 42 | 39 | 47 | 39 | 18 | 17 | 24 | 52 | 96 | 81 | 51 | 48 | 289 | 297 | 276 | 163 | 389 | 858 | 1283 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 5:10AM4.15m | 5:25PM4.49m | 5:42AM4.38m | 5:57PM4.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:42AM0.61m | 00:05AM0.42m | 12:16PM0.37m | 00:39AM0.21m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 8:27 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | E 4 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SSW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | E 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | W 10 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | — |
53 | 9 | 14 | 39 | 47 | 24 | 13 | 17 | 24 | 52 | 69 | 81 | 51 | 48 | 289 | 20 | 276 | 71 | 108 | 48 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | WNW 6 | SSW 15 | W 9 | WSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | W 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | W 8 | SW 10 | W 10 | S 9 | — | SSW 9 | — |
6 | 13 | 42 | 14 | 19 | 39 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 96 | 43 | 22 | 29 | 18 | 24 | 54 | 2 | — | 25 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | WSW 9 | WNW 7 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | — | W 9 | SW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 8 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 | SW 12 | W 11 | S 12 | — | — | — | — |
21 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 4 | NE 4 | E 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | — | S 3 | SSE 4 | S 4 | — | SW 8 | — | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 |
— | 18 | 16 | 17 | 51 | 86 | 366 | 645 | 371 | 236 | — | 2 | 3 | 17 | — | 297 | — | 163 | 389 | 858 | 1283 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 31 | 8 | 24 | 23 | 41 | 400 | 400 | 172 | 165 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 32 | 23 | 25 | 188 | 189 | 135 | 183 | 186 |
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.











