Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, WSW swell with 2,218 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Poldhu Cove this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Poldhu Cove in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for Poldhu Cove.
It's a rough start, I gotta be honest with you. The next 16 days are looking like a tough stretch for decent paddle surfing. The swell is gonna be there, but the wind is just going to ruin it, time and time again. We're looking at a long, frustrating gap until we get something that's even worth a second look. The first week is pretty much a write-off.
The very first chance we see is on Friday, the 28th of August. We've got a 5ft swell from the WSW, but the period is a short, weak 6 seconds. The wind is a solid 22 mph onshore from the WSW, and combined wave energy is only 172. It's just messy, blown-out junk. Not worth paddling for.
The weekend is a complete nightmare. Saturday the 29th sees a 10ft to 12ft swell from the SW, with a 31 mph cross-onshore blow. The wave energy is monstrous at 2218, but you'd be a lunatic to get out there. It's a near gale, and it's blown out. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are more of the same: solid swell between 7ft and 8ft, but constantly hammered by strong cross-offshore winds. The water is a touch warmer than usual at 64°, but that's little comfort when you're getting chewed up by a cross-chop.
The first glimmer of something that might be okay comes on Tuesday the 1st of September. The swell drops right back to 4ft from the W, and the wind is down to a gentle 9 mph cross-shore. The combined energy is a weak 231. It's not going to be epic, but it might be the only time it's not completely howling. It's a marginal call at best.
Then it's back to the rinse and repeat of strong onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions through the 5th of September. We get a bit of a reprieve on the morning of Saturday the 5th, with a light 6 mph WSW breeze, but the swell is only 5ft (317 energy) and the wind is onshore. It's still poor.
The only real standout in this whole period looks like Wednesday the 9th of September. The wind is a light 6 mph cross-onshore from the WSW, and we have a 7ft W swell with a 9-second period. The combined energy is 777, which is moderate. The wind is light enough that it might clean up, and that swell has some grunt. It's the only session that scores a 2 out of 10 in the forecast, which says it all. This is your best bet, but don't expect perfection.
After that, the 10th through the 12th of September are just a mess of strong winds and rain, with the 10th seeing a tiny 2ft swell. It's a grim end to the outlook.
So, the honest truth? For a beginner, anything over 5ft is too much, and that's most of the time. For a surfer looking for a wave, the only window that's even close to worth a look is that Wednesday morning, the 9th of September at Poldhu Cove. It's inconsistent, and the crowds are possible, but with the light wind, it's the only chance for a clean wave. The rest of it? Kite surfers might be having a field day with that wind, but for us paddle guys, it's a tough watch.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri night, min 16°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon night, strong winds from the SW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 6 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
162 | 141 | 967 | 2218 | 921 | 355 | 778 | 1955 | 1145 | 854 | 407 | 225 | 214 | 125 | 131 | 193 | 458 | 345 | 308 | 370 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:57PM4.71m | 6:13AM4.57m | 6:28PM4.87m | 6:45AM4.70m | 7:00PM4.94m | 7:18AM4.75m | 7:34PM4.92m | 7:53AM4.71m | 8:11PM4.78m | 8:31AM4.57m | 8:52PM4.54m | 9:15AM4.34m | 9:40PM4.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM0.21m | 12:51PM0.20m | 1:13AM0.08m | 1:26PM0.12m | 1:48AM0.06m | 2:01PM0.14m | 2:23AM0.14m | 2:39PM0.26m | 3:01AM0.32m | 3:19PM0.46m | 3:43AM0.58m | 4:06PM0.73m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | |
mm | — | 13 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | WNW 8 | — | — | WSW 9 | W 9 | — | — | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 17 | W 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 6 | WSW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
5 | 12 | — | — | 921 | 355 | — | — | 1145 | 854 | 407 | 225 | 12 | 125 | 25 | 23 | 62 | 345 | 44 | 22 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | S 11 | — | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | S 18 | — | SW 16 | S 10 | SSW 15 | SW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | — |
5 | 2 | — | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 6 | — | 10 | 2 | 22 | 12 | 21 | 22 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | — | — | S 11 | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 21 | 22 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | — | SSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | W 7 | WSW 6 | W 8 | — | W 8 | WSW 8 |
162 | 141 | 967 | 2218 | — | 111 | 778 | 1955 | — | — | — | — | 214 | — | 131 | 193 | 458 | — | 308 | 370 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 168 | 584 | 584 | 177 | 68 | 80 | 68 | 181 | 18 | 167 | 22 | 13 | 165 | 23 | 523 | 730 | 279 | 719 | 192 | 189 |
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.











