Surf Forecasts:
Poldhu Cove surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 15s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, W swell with 1,428 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 15s period with SSW 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 (Aug 22) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Poldhu Cove over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me tell you about Poldhu Cove. Look, I'm gonna level with you: this 16-day stretch is a tough one to call for the usual paddling. There is no good surf on the cards for the first week and a half. We’re looking at a gap from today, Saturday the 22nd, all the way through until Thursday the 3rd of September where the conditions just aren't coming together. Small swell, onshore muck, or just plain messy. It's pretty bleak for a wave lover.
Let's walk through it. Saturday (22nd) through Monday (24th) is a no-go. We're talking tiny 0.7ft to 2ft swells from the west and southwest, all messed up by a stiff easterly breeze. The wave energy is pitiful, barely hitting 74. Not worth waxing the board.
Tuesday the 25th sees a tiny bump with a 2ft W swell and a period of 10 seconds, but the wind is all wrong, making it a cross-shore chop. The energy ticks up a bit to 117, but it's still a mess.
Wednesday the 26th brings a risk of thunderstorms and a short-period 3ft to 4ft onshore slop from the SSW, energy up to 213. That's not surf, that's a washing machine. Thursday the 27th gets a big jump in swell – 10ft from the west – but that's no good here. That's a 1730 energy reading, but the onshore winds are howling and making it a complete dog's breakfast. It's over 8ft, so even if it was clean, that's expert territory, and it's not clean.
This pattern of big, windy, messy surf continues. Friday the 28th has another 10ft pulse, this time from the NW, with a 1478 energy reading, but again it's trashed by a strong cross-onshore wind. Saturday the 29th still holds onto some size (8ft) and moderate energy (1123), but the wind is still a problem. We get a bit of a reprieve on Sunday the 30th with smaller 3ft to 4ft swells, but the wind swings onshore from the south-southwest and southwest.
Now, hold on. I see a little light on the horizon. September the 2nd shows a big jump. Wednesday morning the 2nd, we get another 10ft swell from the WSW with a 10-second period, energy cranked up to 1541. The commentary even says "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions," which is more interesting than "poor." But the wind is still cross-onshore.
But THEN... Friday the 4th of September. This is the one. Friday morning. The swell is a solid 12ft from the WSW, with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a massive 2094. The wind is forecast to be a cross-shore from the northwest, not a full onshore mess. And here's the kicker: the forecast gives it a strong "11 out of 10" rating, saying the wind and tide are favorable for the size. The only caveat is that with an 12ft swell, Poldhu Cove is strictly for the experts. The energy is huge. The crowd profile says "sometimes" so you might have a few other keen chargers out there. The morning looks like the pick, as the afternoon wind picks up and the swell drops slightly to 7ft with a longer 11-second period, but the wind goes cross-on again.
Before that, the morning of Thursday the 3rd is an absolute monster – 13ft from the WSW with 3348 energy – but it's straight onshore and dangerous. Don't even think about it.
So, the long and short of it is: we scrap the first week and a half. You're looking at two potential windows: the marginal morning of Wednesday the 2nd, or the standout, bigger, and cleaner Friday the 4th. For the average punter, it's a blank run. If you're a grommet or a beginner, don't even look at this forecast. For the experts, keep your eyes peeled on the 4th of September and the morning session, but don't hold your breath until then. Forecasts can change, but right now it's a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Fri night, strong winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon night, light winds from the SE 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 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 9 | NW 7 | SW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
53 | 26 | 42 | 39 | 36 | 39 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 55 | 71 | 81 | 86 | 161 | 302 | 1428 | 566 | 176 | 189 | 947 | 432 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
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 | 6:38AM1.72m | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | E 4 | W 9 | SSW 14 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SSW 13 | SW 9 | W 10 | E 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | S 7 | SSW 9 | S 12 | WSW 8 | W 9 | SSW 11 | SW 10 |
53 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 19 | 24 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 55 | 86 | 81 | 52 | 46 | 302 | 302 | 3 | 176 | 189 | 531 | 432 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | WSW 9 | SSW 15 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 9 | WNW 11 | SW 8 | W 10 | SW 8 | E 4 | SW 12 | W 8 | — | E 6 | WNW 8 | S 6 | ESE 8 | E 7 |
6 | 26 | 42 | 14 | 36 | 39 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 35 | 71 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 41 | — | 1 | 113 | 97 | 116 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | WNW 7 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | SW 12 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 8 | E 6 | SW 12 | — | SW 12 | — | — | W 10 | ESE 5 | — | E 7 |
21 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 46 | 10 | 6 | — | 6 | — | — | 71 | 40 | — | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 4 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | — | S 3 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | ESE 5 | W 9 | W 8 | SSW 7 | N 4 | NW 7 | W 7 |
— | — | 12 | 21 | 64 | 86 | 251 | 544 | 465 | 195 | — | 6 | 86 | 161 | 39 | 1428 | 566 | 121 | 68 | 947 | 246 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 31 | 8 | 24 | 31 | 41 | 194 | 172 | 165 | 224 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 224 | 22 | 45 | 177 | 18 | 171 | 530 | 171 |
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.











