Surf Forecasts:
Polzeath surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, W swell with 683 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Polzeath this week:
The surf forecast for Polzeath over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Polzeath in the next 16 days are 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) 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 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Polzeath over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. Polzeath is the only spot in the mix, and it’s a quiet stretch ahead. The first few days are rough with cross-onshore winds and messy waves, but there’s a brief window of clean conditions for the patient surfer.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
We kick off Thursday the 20th of August with rain showers and a WNW wind at 19 mph, blowing cross-on. The swell is 7 ft from the west with a 9-second period, but the energy is moderate (695) and the surf is poor. Friday the 21st is smaller and still cross-onshore, weak energy. Saturday the 22nd is the first real highlight. Morning brings clear skies, a light offshore breeze from the ENE at 6 mph, and clean conditions. The swell is tiny at 2 ft from the west, 10-second period, so it’s small but clean. Energy is weak (99). It’s a beginner-friendly wave, but don’t expect much power. Consistency is fair, but it might be a bit inconsistent.
Sunday the 23rd drops right off – tiny 0.7 ft swell with a long 14-second period, but it’s too small to ride. Clean but flat. Monday the 24th is flat with a fresh offshore wind, but nothing to get excited about. Tuesday the 25th is still flat and clean. The rest of the week stays small and mostly cross-onshore, with poor surf conditions right through to the end of the month.
There’s a gap of several days with no real surf. Then we get a bigger pulse on Monday the 31st of August. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the west, 11-second period, and the energy is very strong (2395). But the wind is cross-onshore from the WSW at 19 mph, making it lumpy and messy. This is expert-only territory – big, powerful, but ugly. Beach and point setup means it could be more interesting for kite surfing than traditional paddle surfing in those conditions.
Early September stays small and cross-onshore, with nothing worth paddling out for. The whole window is pretty lean, but the cleanest, most surfable moment is Saturday the 22nd of August. It’s not a standout by any means, but it’s the best of a quiet run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed night, light winds from the ENE by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun night, strong winds from the E by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 683 | 612 | 239 | 107 | 86 | 34 | 45 | 41 | 25 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 108 | 80 | 257 | 183 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 11:11AM5.27m | 11:38PM5.00m | 12:09PM4.84m | 00:48AM4.62m | 1:32PM4.60m | 2:23AM4.52m | 3:05PM4.71m | 3:44AM4.77m | 4:12PM5.10m | 4:38AM5.18m | 4:59PM5.57m | 5:19AM5.63m | 5:37PM6.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:59AM1.84m | 5:24PM2.04m | 5:51AM2.29m | 6:30PM2.44m | 7:10AM2.59m | 8:06PM2.59m | 8:50AM2.57m | 9:36PM2.38m | 10:04AM2.24m | 10:36PM1.98m | 10:54AM1.80m | 11:19PM1.53m | 11:33AM1.35m | 11:55PM1.09m | |||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 6 | W 9 | N 5 | W 9 | W 9 | N 4 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | NE 4 | NE 4 | W 8 | W 12 | W 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 612 | 239 | 107 | 86 | 34 | 33 | 41 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 11 | 183 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 6 | W 10 | SW 15 | W 9 | N 3 | WSW 14 | SW 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 20 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 45 | 8 | 25 | 2 | 19 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 13 | WSW 15 | SW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 14 | W 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 13 | WNW 10 | — | W 13 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 21 | 19 | 10 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 19 | — | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | — | N 5 | — | — | N 3 | — | E 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | ENE 4 | — | WSW 9 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | — |
| kJ | 683 | — | 34 | 52 | 34 | 19 | — | 20 | — | — | 1 | — | 12 | 11 | 12 | 17 | — | 108 | 80 | 257 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 547 | 228 | 42 | 66 | 242 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 41 | 63 | 9 | 382 | 142 | 217 | 242 | 36 | 9 | 223 | 56 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Polzeath Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Polzeath provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Polzeath can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Polzeath 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 (Polzeath) 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 Polzeath 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.
Are you planning a holiday in North Cornwall? If you are looking for accommodation near Polzeath, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in North Cornwall, consider staying in Padstow which is 4 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around North Cornwall where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Bodmin which is 18 km (11 miles) away, Newquay, Par and Saint Austell.
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