
Surf Forecasts:
Tolcarne surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, W swell with 1,849 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tolcarne in the next 16 days are 2.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tolcarne over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at the Tolcarne picture for the next couple of weeks. I’m Rusty, and I’ll tell you straight.
The forecast is a bit of a tough one. Honestly, for the first week and a half, there’s not a single window I’d get excited about. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross, cross-on, or onshore, and the swell is often messy. You’re looking at a long gap of pretty ordinary conditions until we get a slight glimmer later on.
Let’s start with the first real recommendation. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. On Saturday morning, 13th September, we’ve got a small window. The swell is a weak 2 ft from the west, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a feeble 104 (weak energy). The wind is a gentle offshore from the SSE, giving us clean conditions. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 64 °F. It’s not big, it’s not powerful, but it’s clean. That’s about as good as it gets for the whole period.
The rest of the 16 days is a write-off. Most of the time the swell is too small, too wind-affected, or the wind is just wrong. We get a few bigger pulses – like Monday morning, 7th September, with a 8 ft west swell at 13 seconds and a combined energy of 1783 (strong wave energy) – but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 16 mph, creating chop. That’s a kite surfing setup, not a paddle surfing one. The same story repeats a few times: a bit of size, but wind-ruined.
For a beginner-friendly spot like Tolcarne, the bigger swells (over 5 ft) are already pushing it, and the 8 ft day is definitely too big for learners. The long period on that one (13 seconds) would mean the waves have more energy and longer gaps, but the cross-onshore wind just kills any quality.
After the 13th, it goes flat. The last few days are tiny, mostly below 2 ft, with hardly any energy. The 19th of September shows a 0.3 ft swell from the southwest with a period of 16 seconds, but it’s practically nothing.
So, the only honest call here is: Saturday morning, 13th September, for some clean, small surf at Tolcarne. The rest of the 16 days, you’re better off waiting or finding another spot.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SSE by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 16 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 6 | WSW 7 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
621 | 529 | 545 | 326 | 153 | 78 | 69 | 188 | 1783 | 1369 | 1190 | 668 | 673 | 592 | 494 | 321 | 117 | 151 | 405 | 555 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:12PM5.19m | 11:48AM5.04m | 00:35AM4.84m | 1:21PM4.91m | 2:12AM4.87m | 2:52PM5.18m | 3:32AM5.24m | 4:00PM5.69m | 4:31AM5.74m | 4:52PM6.23m | 5:18AM6.20m | 5:36PM6.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:58PM1.53m | 5:33AM1.79m | 6:21PM1.87m | 7:09AM2.02m | 8:06PM1.87m | 8:47AM1.83m | 9:32PM1.48m | 9:59AM1.38m | 10:33PM0.96m | 10:53AM0.87m | 11:22PM0.49m | 11:38AM0.44m | 00:03AM0.14m | |||||||
— | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WNW 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | N 6 | W 11 | — |
20 | 106 | 545 | 326 | 153 | 78 | 69 | 120 | 1783 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 117 | 2 | 10 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 14 | SW 14 | N 4 | N 4 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 5 | W 12 | N 6 | — |
— | 19 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 188 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | 1 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | — | W 20 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 7 | 7 | — | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SSW 3 | WSW 4 | — | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | — | W 6 | WSW 7 | W 8 |
621 | 529 | — | — | — | 9 | 3 | 7 | — | 1369 | 1190 | 668 | 673 | 592 | 494 | 321 | — | 151 | 405 | 555 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 218 | 141 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 37 | 1 | 542 | 218 | 45 | 222 | 326 | 500 | 401 | 205 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 241 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










