Surf Forecasts:
Tolcarne surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, SW swell with 663 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tolcarne this week:
The surf forecast for Tolcarne over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tolcarne in the next 16 days are 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tolcarne over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Tolcarne.
Overall, it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a long, quiet run of tiny, messy conditions for the first week and a half, with only a few days where things might just about come together. The standout window is around the 2nd of September, but with a big caveat.
Starting from Monday the 24th of August right through the rest of the month, it’s frustrating. Swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is a constant problem – cross-off, cross, or cross-on from the east and south-east. Energy is extremely weak, reading between 17 and 168 on the dial. The water temp is about average for the time of year.
Thursday the 27th afternoon sees a little jump to 6 ft from the SW, but the wind is cross and the combined energy is moderate (702). Still, it’s messy and gets a marginal call at best.
Friday the 28th into the weekend stays poor. Swell bumps up but the period is short (6-8 seconds) and wind stays messy. The 30th and 31st of August sees size climb to 7 ft-7 ft, but with strong cross-off or cross-on winds from the west and northwest, and lumpy conditions. Energy is moderate to strong (594 to 678), not great for a clean session.
Now, here’s the highlight – Wednesday the 2nd of September. By the afternoon, we’re looking at 10 ft from the WSW with an 8-second period. The combined energy is a solid 952. The wind is a clean cross-off from the SSW. The report says the wind and tide are favorable, but that’s a lot of water. At 10 ft, this is expert territory only, and only if you can handle a beach break handling a big, short-period swell. It might be more of a spectacle for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
Thursday the 3rd keeps 10 ft from the west and WNW, but the wind turns cross and cross-on, making it lumpy and poor. Energy is very strong (1256 and 1245), but the quality isn’t there for a good paddle surf.
The rest of the first week of September is a mix of lumpy, onshore, and messy conditions as the swell drops back to 5 ft to 8 ft. Energy stays strong, but the wind stays fresh and cross-onshore.
The 6th and 7th of September are interesting. The swell on the 6th is 5 ft from the west with a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, with a huge energy reading of 1895. But it’s onshore from the NNW, and it’s a beach break – that long period will break straight, making it tough. The 7th drops to 5 ft-5 ft from the WNW with a 14-second period, and lighter winds. The energy is strong and the conditions are a bit cleaner – this could be the most user-friendly window, but it’s still only a marginal call.
So, the best bet for clean, rideable waves is the 2nd of September afternoon if you’re an expert, or the 7th of September morning and afternoon if you want something a bit more manageable.
Stay stoked, but be patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun night, fresh winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the WSW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 9 | WSW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 9 | WSW 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 17 | 12 | 52 | 70 | 59 | 50 | 31 | 28 | 142 | 663 | 178 | 183 | 149 | 399 | 128 | 41 | 54 | 173 | 178 | 365 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:57PM4.83m | 4:24AM4.90m | 4:44PM5.27m | 5:04AM5.32m | 5:21PM5.72m | 5:40AM5.72m | 5:55PM6.12m | 6:12AM6.07m | 6:27PM6.44m | 6:44AM6.33m | 7:00PM6.66m | 7:17AM6.50m | 7:32PM6.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:51AM2.12m | 10:24PM1.87m | 10:41AM1.71m | 11:07PM1.44m | 11:20AM1.28m | 11:43PM1.03m | 11:54AM0.90m | 00:16AM0.67m | 12:27PM0.58m | 00:48AM0.40m | 12:59PM0.37m | 1:19AM0.25m | 1:30PM0.26m | 1:50AM0.22m | |||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NE 4 | WNW 11 | NE 5 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 8 | — | NNW 5 | W 6 | SW 7 | — | W 12 | — |
3 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 70 | 59 | 50 | 31 | 28 | 142 | 663 | 178 | 26 | 20 | — | 9 | 41 | 54 | — | 11 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | NNE 5 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 10 | — | SW 11 | — | SW 7 | N 5 | WNW 5 | W 13 | — | — |
8 | 6 | 6 | 52 | 4 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 39 | 50 | — | 5 | — | 7 | 4 | 10 | 3 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 13 | — | — | SW 12 | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — |
6 | 17 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 7 | — | — | 6 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | ESE 3 | NE 3 | — | — | NE 4 | SSE 2 | S 3 | SE 3 | — | — | — | WSW 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | SSW 7 | NNE 3 | SW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 |
8 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 183 | 149 | 399 | 128 | 18 | 3 | 173 | 178 | 365 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 387 | 205 | 205 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 207 | 211 | 208 | 14 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 218 | 45 | 494 | 544 | 299 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tolcarne Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tolcarne provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tolcarne can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tolcarne 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 (Tolcarne) 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 Tolcarne 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 Tolcarne, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in North Cornwall, consider staying in Newquay which is 2 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around North Cornwall where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Padstow which is 17 km (11 miles) away, Truro, Saint Austell and Bodmin.











