Surf Forecasts:
Fistral-North surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, W swell with 781 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fistral-North this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Fistral-North in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fistral-North over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a proper look at what Fistral North has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – the next ten days or so are looking pretty grim. Lots of wind, mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the surf quality is just not there. It’s a long stretch of poor conditions, from now through to about the 26th of August. You’re looking at small, weak, choppy waves with a side of messy wind for most of that time, so don’t bother paddling out.
There’s a real shift, though, right at the very tail end of the forecast. The standout action, and really the only time worth getting excited, looks to be on Saturday the 29th of August. That afternoon, a solid 10ft swell rolls in from the west with a period of 9 seconds. That’s a big chunk of energy – we’re talking strong wave energy here (1366). But here’s the rub: the wind is a fresh cross-onshore from the west at 22 mph, and with that swell size, this is strictly for the experts only. Over 8ft, it gets proper heavy, and that onshore wind will make it lumpy and challenging. The morning of the 29th is also big at 8ft from the southwest, but again, fresh cross-onshore winds and a short 6-second period make it a messy, blown-out affair.
At Fistral North, water temp is sitting around 67°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid anomaly of 4°. You won’t need a thick suit, but you won’t need boardies either.
So, to be blunt, there’s very little to recommend here for a long while. The Saturday the 29th of August offers the only real size, but it’s an expert-only, windy session. If you’re a kite surfer, that strong cross-onshore wind and decent swell might look like a bit of fun, but for the rest of us on a paddle board, the waiting game continues.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 17°C on Sun afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the N by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 8 | 58 | 121 | 92 | 134 | 88 | 160 | 293 | 427 | 754 | 586 | 552 | 275 | 130 | 74 | 45 | 21 | 49 | 30 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 11:55AM4.57m | 00:36AM4.36m | 1:20PM4.36m | 2:10AM4.29m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:58AM0.40m | 3:11PM0.60m | 3:33AM0.81m | 3:48PM1.02m | 4:08AM1.28m | 4:27PM1.49m | 4:48AM1.75m | 5:13PM1.94m | 5:40AM2.17m | 6:19PM2.31m | 6:58AM2.45m | 7:54PM2.45m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 5 |
16 | 8 | 58 | 121 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 552 | 275 | 130 | 74 | 45 | 17 | 25 | 33 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | — | W 9 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 |
2 | — | 40 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 49 | 30 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 18 | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 11 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
7 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 21 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 4 | — | — | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | — | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | E 2 | ESE 3 | — |
— | 8 | — | — | 92 | 134 | 88 | 160 | 293 | 427 | 754 | 586 | — | 10 | 37 | 31 | 17 | 1 | 3 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 339 | 243 | 232 | 218 | 293 | 268 | 241 | 293 | 542 | 218 | 512 | 142 | 218 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 202 | 41 | 27 | 51 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











