Surf Forecasts:
Tolcarne surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, WNW swell with 219 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tolcarne this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Tolcarne in the next 16 days are 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tolcarne over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: it’s a pretty bleak stretch ahead for our shores. We’re looking at a solid run of poor surf and messy winds for the next week and a half. The first real glimmer of hope doesn't show up until late in the game, and even that one's a bit of a gamble this far out. Hang tight, but maybe dust off the kiteboard for the meantime.
The whole 16-day window starts off with some weak, short-period swell out of the west at Tolcarne. The wave energy is weak, sitting around 129 units. But it doesn't matter much because we’ve got cross-onshore winds blowing it all to pieces. Friday the 14th is a write-off, and Saturday the 15th gets worse as a fresh northerly breeze kicks up, making things properly lumpy. The swell gets smaller heading into Sunday and Monday, with the energy dropping to around 33-66 units. It’s not even worth paddling out for that dribble.
We'll see a bit more push mid-week, around Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, with the swell building to about 5 feet. The combined energy jumps into the moderate range, hitting 213 units. But with a fresh cross-onshore wind, it's just going to be a choppy, blown-out mess. It’s all surface noise and no shape. Not for the faint of heart, and honestly, not for anyone.
After that it fades out again, with small, weak surf under 3 feet for the rest of that week. Even a brief period of flatness around the 22nd, with the swell down to less than a foot and a long 15-second period, but that’s just forlorn. The ocean just looks like a lake, not a surf spot. You’d be better off going for a swim, though the water temperature is 66°, which is a good 4° warmer than usual for this time of year. Pretty notable.
The run of poor conditions is relentless. It’s a solid 12-13 day stretch of nothing. Then, on Thursday the 27th, we finally get a sign of life. It’s a late call, but the wind swings offshore, and the swell jumps to around 7 feet out of the west-southwest with a period of 8 seconds. The energy reads a strong 522 units. The morning still looks a bit weak, but that afternoon has the makings of something clean. This is the standout of the entire window—your one and only, as far as I can see. It's not huge, but with a clean offshore breeze, Tolcarne should finally show its face.
But hold on, don't book the time off yet. The next day, Friday the 28th, a massive swell hits. We’re talking 16 to 18 feet out of the west with a 12-13 second period. The energy is a colossal 7613 to 9075 units, but it’s accompanied by a near-gale cross-onshore wind. That is a giant, howling, blown-out mess. It's not surfing; it's survival. Only for the truly unhinged. And even then, it’s junk. That swell will stick around for Saturday at 11 to 13 feet with strong winds, but it's still all over the shop. Maybe a spectacle, but not for paddling.
So, there you have it. One proper window on the 27th looks like your best bet, and maybe a look at the giant, messy beast on the 28th if you’re in the mood for something completely different. The long-range stuff is still a fair way out, so keep your fingers crossed and check back in. Otherwise, it's a time for boat maintenance.
Later, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Sat morning, light winds from the NNW by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
129 | 123 | 165 | 102 | 95 | 54 | 27 | 25 | 8 | 40 | 120 | 157 | 202 | 152 | 200 | 203 | 210 | 166 | 103 | 76 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 7:19PM7.04m | 7:40AM6.69m | 7:58PM6.95m | 8:18AM6.55m | 8:37PM6.67m | 8:56AM6.26m | 9:15PM6.25m | 9:33AM5.88m | 9:53PM5.75m | 10:13AM5.43m | 10:34PM5.22m | 10:57AM4.97m | 11:25PM4.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:19PM0.04m | 1:44AM-0.06m | 1:57PM0.07m | 2:22AM0.10m | 2:35PM0.27m | 2:58AM0.40m | 3:11PM0.60m | 3:33AM0.81m | 3:48PM1.02m | 4:08AM1.28m | 4:27PM1.49m | 4:48AM1.75m | 5:13PM1.94m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
— | 8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | SW 18 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 |
129 | 123 | 165 | 102 | 95 | 54 | 27 | 25 | 8 | 40 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 166 | 103 | 76 | 47 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 13 | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
— | — | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 8 | 20 | 19 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | W 18 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | N 4 |
— | — | — | 26 | 19 | 24 | — | — | 5 | 20 | 120 | 157 | 202 | 152 | 200 | 203 | 210 | 7 | 36 | 20 | 11 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 14 | 43 | 271 | 294 | 152 | 217 | 403 | 244 | 405 | 571 | 218 | 132 | 232 | 262 | 43 | 138 | 92 | 43 | 43 | 42 |
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.











