Cornish Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for this stretch of coast.

It's a bit of a slow start, to be honest. The first few days are looking pretty grim. We've got some solid swell showing up on the charts, but the wind is just wrecking it. All that west-northwest energy is getting hammered by strong westerlies, so it's a washout for the first part of the week. The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least a decent wetsuit will keep you comfortable while you're watching the whitecaps.

The only break on the radar here is Cornish Reef. It's a fairly consistent reef break, exposed to the west, which is exactly where the swell is coming from, but that doesn't mean much when the wind is on it.

The first real flicker of hope comes around Thursday morning, August 20th. The swell drops a bit to 6ft from the WNW, but the wind swings to a moderate cross-shore. It's still a "marginal" call. The energy is moderate (537), but it's going to be a bit of a choppy mess.

Honestly, you're better off waiting for Monday, August 24th if you're desperate. The morning looks clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is tiny at 2ft. The energy is in the moderate range (211), though, so there might be a sneaky little ripple. The Monday afternoon is where it gets interesting. The swell jumps back up to 6ft from the WSW, and the energy is strong (664). But the wind is a moderate cross-shore again, so it'll be a battle.

The best chance for a proper session looks like it's nearly a week away. Wednesday, August 26th sees a proper offshore wind from the east, with light to gentle breezes. The swell is a consistent 4ft from the west, with a 9-second period. The energy is moderate (188-194). This is the first time the wind is right, and the conditions will be clean. It's a highlight of the whole forecast, but it's still just "ordinary" surf, not a classic.

Then, Thursday, August 27th morning is the standout. The swell holds at 4ft from the west, with a slightly longer 10-second period. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the NE. The energy is moderate (240). This is the best combination of size, wind, and period in the whole outlook. For a surfer, this is the window to aim for. The crowds are possible at this spot, so get there early.

After that, it tails off. The last few days of August and into the start of September are a mix of tiny swell and poor wind. The very end of the forecast, on September 2nd, has a weird, long-period 18-second swell from the west, but it's only 1ft and the wind is onshore. That's a classic case of a groundswell with no size—all energy, no wave. The energy values are moderate (200), but it's a tease.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off. The best bet is Thursday, August 27th morning for the cleanest conditions on a small but workable swell. Wednesday the 26th is a decent backup. The rest is a long wait for nothing.

Rusty out.

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