Surf Forecasts:
Tolcarne surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, SW swell with 878 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s 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 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s 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 1.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tolcarne over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough stretch. The forecast is showing a long, dry spell with no real surf to speak of. We’re looking at a gap that stretches from now, through the end of August, and well into the first week of September. There’s just nothing on offer that’s worth paddling out for. The only spot in the mix is Tolcarne, and it’s a tough one.
The first few days are a total write-off. From Saturday the 22nd through Monday the 24th, we’ve got tiny, wind-affected waves with energy levels barely cracking 90 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The water is sitting at 65°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s where the good news ends. Winds are cross or cross-on, making for choppy, messy conditions.
Things don’t really improve much through the week. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th see a little more shape with cleaner conditions as the wind goes cross-off or offshore, but the swell is still tiny – nothing over 2 ft. It’s just not enough to get excited about.
We get a little bump in energy on Thursday the 27th, with a 3 ft swell from the SW and a moderate breeze keeping things clean, but the combined energy jumps to 131. Still, the wave comment says “poor surf conditions,” so I’m not sold. By Friday the 28th, the swell pushes up to 5 ft from the WSW, but the period is short at 9 seconds, and the wind is howling cross-shore. It’s messy.
The weekend of the 29th and 30th brings a bigger pulse – 7 ft from the W on Saturday morning – but it’s accompanied by strong cross-onshore winds and rain showers. The energy is high (639), but the quality is total junk. This is one of those setups where the beach is going to be a washing machine, more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. By Sunday, it drops back to 4 ft with cleaner winds, but the period is a pathetic 6 seconds.
The first week of September is more of the same. Monday the 31st has 7 ft swell but fresh cross-onshore winds, lumpy and poor. The rest of the week dwindles down to knee-high mush with short periods. There’s a long-period spike on Wednesday the 2nd (17 seconds), but the swell is only 0.7 ft high – you’d be scratching for a ripple.
So, the bottom line: there are no standouts here. The entire 16-day window is a bust for Tolcarne. The only real highlight is that the water is a touch warmer than normal, but that’s cold comfort when there’s no surf. It’s a blank run, and for this area, that’s not uncommon when the patterns lock in like this. We’ll have to wait for the next system.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sun morning, fresh winds from the E by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Wed night, fresh winds from the WNW by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | WSW 12 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 38 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 54 | 71 | 59 | 35 | 32 | 18 | 109 | 218 | 657 | 338 | 219 | 306 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:10AM4.29m | 2:52PM4.47m | 3:30AM4.52m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:54PM2.45m | 8:37AM2.43m | 9:24PM2.25m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | 3 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | N 5 | NNW 4 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | N 4 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 12 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | — |
40 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 38 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 54 | 71 | 59 | 35 | 32 | 18 | 109 | 218 | 657 | 338 | 219 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | W 9 | SW 13 | N 4 | N 4 | WSW 13 | W 9 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | — | — |
21 | 21 | 13 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 10 | 37 | 20 | 8 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | — | WSW 14 | W 10 | WSW 14 | W 9 | SW 9 | WNW 11 | N 4 | SW 9 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | SW 12 | WNW 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | — | 19 | 8 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | N 5 | — | — | — | E 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | SE 2 | SSE 3 | SSW 6 | — | SSE 3 | SW 8 | — | SSE 3 | — | W 7 |
23 | 21 | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 18 | — | 3 | 171 | — | 3 | — | 306 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 55 | 42 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 387 | 217 | 205 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 136 | 13 | 164 | 45 | 16 | 1 | 266 | 543 |
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.











