
Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, WSW swell with 292 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with WNW 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 1.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) 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 0.5m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s brewing for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, the outlook is a tough one for Poldhu Cove. There’s a big gap at the start with no real surf to speak of right through the end of July and into the first week of August. We’re talking days of small, weak, and messy conditions. The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the swell is tiny – often below 3 ft – with a short period that kills any real power. The combined energy is weak, often under 100 (e.g. 144, 110, 77). It’s just not worth paddling out for.
The first real glimpse of something happens on the morning of Tuesday, 5th August. The swell bumps up to 5 ft from the WSW, with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is clean, cross-off from the NNW, and the combined energy jumps to 235 (moderate). The water is much warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 67°F (a 5° anomaly). It’s still not a standout, but it’s the first session that doesn’t look like a total washout. The break is inconsistent, so don’t expect non-stop action, but the clean conditions make it the best bet in a pretty grim run.
Then, on Thursday, 7th August morning, there’s a tiny window of glassy conditions. The wind is calm, the swell is 3 ft from the WNW with a 6-second period, and the combined energy is a weak 69. The wave comment calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”. It’s not going to be a classic, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s the only time the wind drops out completely.
The biggest swell of the whole period hits on Monday, 11th August. The morning shows 6 ft from the W at 9 seconds, with combined energy at 580 (strong). But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore from the W at 19 mph, making it lumpy and poor quality. That’s a lot of water moving around with no real shape to it. For experienced surfers only, and even then, it’s a battle.
For the rest of the second week, the pattern stays similar: small, short-period swell, mostly cross-on or onshore winds, and very few clean windows. The morning of Wednesday, 13th August shows a clean cross-off from the E with 2 ft WSW swell, but the energy is low (78). It’s nothing to get excited about.
The takeaway: Nothing here is a true standout. The best on offer is the Tuesday morning, 5th August session with the 5 ft WSW swell and clean cross-off wind. The other tiny window is the Thursday morning, 7th August for the glassy conditions, but the swell is too small to recommend. The 11th August has size but the wind ruins it. It’s a quiet period, but forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
141 | 106 | 103 | 73 | 71 | 111 | 69 | 46 | 79 | 58 | 19 | 28 | 40 | 57 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 96 | 103 | 101 | 131 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:12PM4.16m | 5:30AM4.07m | 5:48PM4.37m | 6:05AM4.22m | 6:22PM4.53m | 6:39AM4.34m | 6:55PM4.64m | 7:11AM4.41m | 7:27PM4.70m | 7:44AM4.43m | 8:01PM4.68m | 8:20AM4.41m | 8:37PM4.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:30AM0.92m | 11:55PM0.78m | 12:08PM0.69m | 00:32AM0.57m | 12:43PM0.51m | 1:07AM0.41m | 1:18PM0.40m | 1:41AM0.32m | 1:52PM0.35m | 2:16AM0.30m | 2:28PM0.38m | 2:52AM0.34m | 3:04PM0.47m | 3:29AM0.46m | |||||||
5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | S 5 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WSW 9 | NW 5 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 |
141 | 106 | 103 | 73 | 71 | 1 | 31 | 30 | 79 | 58 | 18 | 28 | 29 | 57 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 96 | 103 | 101 | 131 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 6 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 11 | W 12 | SW 12 | WNW 7 | W 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 4 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | E 4 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 |
3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 40 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 7 | S 13 | S 13 | — | — | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | W 7 | — | NW 6 | — | WNW 6 | NW 5 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 5 | NW 3 | NNE 3 | NW 5 | NNE 3 | — | E 3 | — | — | — | SW 4 |
— | — | — | — | — | 111 | 69 | 46 | — | — | 19 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 17 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 23 | 0 | 13 | 192 | 189 | 192 | 719 | 0 | 194 | 483 | 13 | 13 | 29 | 31 | 201 | 417 | 0 | 18 | 23 | 23 |
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.










