Surf Forecasts:
Fistral-North surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, WNW swell with 791 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fistral-North this week:
The surf forecast for Fistral-North over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fistral-North in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fistral-North over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Fistral-North over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, I’ve gotta be honest with you – this stretch is a tough watch. There is no standout period of clean, punchy surf. The first real chance to get wet doesn't come until Friday the 21st of August, and even that is pretty average.
The forecast kicks off with a lot of cross-on wind. We’ve got some consistent waist-to-chest high swell around Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th, but it’s being hammered by fresh onshore winds. Wave energy is moderate, hitting 297 (combined energy) on Wednesday afternoon and jumping up to 799 on Thursday morning, but the conditions are just lumpy and poor. For a spot exposed like this, that’s a no-go for a decent paddle.
The best of a pretty ordinary bunch looks like Friday morning the 21st of August. We get a drop in swell to about 3ft from the west, but the wind swings light cross-off from the ENE at just 6 mph. That’ll clean things up nicely for a couple of hours. It’s only small, but the water temp is sitting at a toasty 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice bonus if you’re out there with a shorty. Take it for what it is – surfable waves but very ordinary conditions overall.
After that, we go into a dry spell. From Saturday the 22nd right through to Monday the 24th of August, the swell drops right out, with energy readings falling into double digits. We’re talking knee-high slop, maybe even flat, with mostly cross-on breezes. Nothing to write home about.
Then things try to pick up again on Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th of August. The swell ticks back up to chest high, and the wind is coming from the south, giving us some cross-off flow. The issue is the wave energy is moderate at best (144 to 233), and the conditions are still described as poor. It’s clean, yes, but there’s no power behind it.
Further out, there is a glimmer of something bigger around Saturday the 29th of August. We could see swell pushing up to 6ft from the west-northwest, with moderate wave energy climbing to 550. The problem is the wind is onshore again from the northwest, so it’ll be a messy, lumpy affair. That’s one for the experts only if the wind cooperates, but right now it doesn’t look promising.
The very tail end of the forecast, into the 1st of September, shows a similar story: waist-high plus swell, south winds keeping it clean but on the cross-off side, and the wave energy is moderate. It’s marginal at best.
For the next 16 days, there’s no real stand-out session. The only window worth a look is that Friday morning the 21st of August. The rest is a write-off or too far out to bank on. Keep an eye on the charts, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | W 9 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
143 | 157 | 235 | 287 | 430 | 791 | 639 | 282 | 136 | 64 | 51 | 65 | 40 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 14 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 9:53PM5.75m | 10:13AM5.43m | 10:34PM5.22m | 10:57AM4.97m | 11:25PM4.73m | 11:55AM4.57m | 00:36AM4.36m | 1:20PM4.36m | 2:10AM4.29m | 2:52PM4.47m | 3:30AM4.52m | 3:57PM4.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:08AM1.28m | 4:27PM1.49m | 4:48AM1.75m | 5:13PM1.94m | 5:40AM2.17m | 6:19PM2.31m | 6:58AM2.45m | 7:54PM2.45m | 8:37AM2.43m | 9:24PM2.25m | 9:51AM2.12m | 10:24PM1.87m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 9 | SW 16 | W 10 | SW 14 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
11 | 12 | 235 | 10 | 45 | 8 | 639 | 282 | 136 | 64 | 33 | 39 | 12 | 14 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 16 | — | WSW 15 | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 9 | WNW 5 | WSW 14 | W 9 | WNW 4 | N 4 | WNW 4 | SW 13 |
— | — | 10 | — | 23 | — | 21 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 24 | 6 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 21 | — | 19 | 20 | 7 | 7 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 7 | — | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 9 | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 4 | N 4 | N 5 | — | — | — |
143 | 157 | — | 287 | 430 | 791 | — | 21 | 42 | 55 | 51 | 65 | 40 | 23 | 19 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 218 | 138 | 73 | 218 | 284 | 138 | 58 | 22 | 0 | 40 | 270 | 264 | 231 | 40 | 41 | 391 | 243 | 401 | 392 | 41 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Fistral-North Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Fistral-North provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fistral-North can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fistral-North 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 (Fistral-North) 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 Fistral-North 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.
Fistral-North is 0 km (0 miles) from Newquay. If you plan a holiday in North Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in Newquay. Newquay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











