Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 13s period, WSW swell with 1,739 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Poldhu Cove in the next 16 days are 2.3m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 13s |
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 lined up for Poldhu Cove. It’s a bit of a frustrating start, if I’m honest. The first few days are all onshore wind and messy, with no real quality to speak of. You’ll be watching a lot of white water and feeling the wind in your face from the 1st right through to the 4th. The swell’s there, but the wind’s just ruining it. We’ve got a gap of those four days of poor conditions before we finally see a window.
Now, the 5th of September, that’s where things get interesting. Saturday morning is the standout. We’ve got glassy conditions, no wind at all – just a clean, calm surface. That’s a big deal here. A 5 ft swell from the west at 11 seconds, and the combined energy is healthy at 468 (moderate wave energy). It’s a groundswell that long, so it’ll be a little more powerful but with longer waits between sets. For a fairly exposed spot, this is the time to be on it. The water’s sitting at about 64°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than average – a nice little bonus for this time of year. It’s not huge, so beginners could have a go, but the inconsistent nature of this break means you’ve got to be patient. And it can get crowded sometimes, so get down early.
The rest of the first week is a write-off with onshore junk. There’s a big spike of energy on the 7th (1647 – strong wave energy) with a 7 ft swell from the west at a very long 13 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s choppy. That’s one for the experts only if they’re desperate, but the quality is poor. It’s all a bit of a mess until we get to the 15th.
Looking further out, the 15th of September has some potential but it’s more of a promise than a certainty. Tuesday morning has a 6 ft west-southwest swell with a 9-second period and light cross-onshore winds – it’s marginal but cleaner. The real interest is Tuesday afternoon: a 8 ft west-southwest swell with a very long 13-second period and a combined energy of 2353 (very strong wave energy). That’s a powerful groundswell, but the wind is directly onshore, so it’s going to be a bumpy, blown-out mess. It’s only for the hardcore, and even then, the quality is questionable. That kind of size and period is best saved for a point break, not a beach setup. Then the 16th settles back to a more manageable 6 ft with light onshore winds. It’s marginal.
Honestly, if you’re looking for clean, surfable waves in the whole 16-day window, your one true standout is the morning of Saturday the 5th. That’s the call. Everything else is compromised by wind or just a bit too raw.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 16 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
153 | 105 | 136 | 481 | 318 | 336 | 308 | 392 | 470 | 419 | 573 | 449 | 332 | 194 | 80 | 56 | 662 | 1631 | 1248 | 1230 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 8:11PM4.78m | 8:31AM4.57m | 8:52PM4.54m | 9:15AM4.34m | 9:40PM4.21m | 10:08AM4.04m | 10:41PM3.85m | 11:20AM3.76m | 00:07AM3.59m | 12:55PM3.67m | 1:45AM3.60m | 2:23PM3.87m | 3:02AM3.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:01AM0.32m | 3:19PM0.46m | 3:43AM0.58m | 4:06PM0.73m | 4:32AM0.90m | 5:02PM1.02m | 5:34AM1.19m | 6:15PM1.25m | 6:56AM1.35m | 7:48PM1.26m | 8:27AM1.25m | 9:14PM1.00m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 16 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 |
153 | 105 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 45 | 23 | 20 | 419 | 573 | 449 | 332 | 194 | 80 | 56 | 662 | 1631 | 1248 | 1230 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | — | S 18 | — | S 9 | — | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SE 4 | W 8 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 12 |
12 | 10 | 25 | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 50 | 11 | 3 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | S 5 | — | — | — | SW 12 | SE 4 | — | — | — |
— | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | SE 4 | — | — | W 4 | — | — |
— | — | 136 | 481 | 318 | 336 | 308 | 392 | 470 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | — | — | 5 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 22 | 254 | 189 | 23 | 23 | 188 | 253 | 13 | 107 | 13 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 13 | 45 | 45 |
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.











