Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 19 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, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, W swell with 971 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 2.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1PM.
| 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 | 1PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer around Poldhu Cove.
Right, so the honest truth is, this 16-day window is looking pretty grim for any decent surf. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions and only a few moments that might be worth a paddle. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real chance to get wet is on Friday, August 21st, in the morning. It’s not going to be anything special, but there’ll be some small, clean waves. We’re looking at waist-high sets around 4ft, coming from the west-northwest with a short, weak period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak (227). The wind will be light from the northeast, blowing straight offshore, which will keep the surface glassy. It’s Poldhu Cove, a fairly exposed spot, and it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a lot of waves. The optimum swell direction is from the southwest, and this is coming from the west-northwest, so it’s not ideal. Crowds are possible here.
After that, the surf drops right off. From Saturday the 22nd right through to the end of the month, it’s pretty much a write-off. We’re talking tiny, weak waves, often with onshore or cross-shore winds making a mess of things. There’s a glimmer of hope on the morning of Sunday, August 30th, with a bigger swell rolling in. The waves will be around 8ft from the west, with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1334). The wind will be from the north-northwest, creating a clean, cross-off breeze. But it’s only a marginal forecast, and the size is pushing into expert-only territory for a spot like this.
The standout, if you can call it that, is on Monday, August 31st, in the morning. This is by far the biggest swell of the period, with waves hitting 15ft from the west, a 10-second period, and a massive combined energy of 4680. The wind is a fresh cross-shore from the west-northwest. However, the guidance clearly states the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a heavy, dangerous beast. The period is moderate, so it’ll have some punch.
Beyond that, things stay big and messy right through to the start of September, with strong onshore winds and lumpy conditions. Not a great outlook overall.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue night, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Wed night, light winds from the NE by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 10 | W 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 9 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | W 10 | SW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 259 | 414 | 655 | 942 | 864 | 464 | 205 | 112 | 50 | 54 | 32 | 24 | 24 | 13 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 82 | 235 | 962 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:47AM3.98m | 10:10PM3.84m | 10:36AM3.66m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:05AM0.83m | 4:23PM1.01m | 4:44AM1.18m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | E 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | WNW 10 | W 10 | SW 9 |
| kJ | 259 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 864 | 464 | 205 | 112 | 50 | 54 | 32 | 12 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 82 | 235 | 962 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 9 | W 8 | NNW 6 | W 9 | SSW 14 | E 6 | E 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | E 5 | E 5 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 24 | — | — | — | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 38 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 8 | NNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 8 | SSW 13 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 10 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 10 | W 8 | W 9 | — | — | NE 3 | N 3 | N 3 | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | — | N 3 | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 5 | — |
| kJ | — | 414 | 655 | 942 | — | — | 5 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 78 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 580 | 189 | 181 | 177 | 183 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 204 | 98 | 187 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 295 | 391 | 192 | 13 | 23 | 69 |
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.
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