
Surf Forecasts:
Fistral-North surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, W swell with 752 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 1.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 10AM. 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 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fistral-North over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let me have a look at what’s coming up for Fistral-North.
Honestly, for the next week and a half, it’s a tough watch. The wind and swell are not playing ball at all. We’ve got a real run of poor surf conditions stretching from Saturday the 12th right through until at least Monday the 21st. That’s over a week of lumpy, cross-shore, or onshore wind and messy waves. The water temp is sitting at about 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only positive.
Let’s break it down. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are a write-off: fresh cross-shore winds, around 19 mph, with a lumpy cross-chop. Swell is 4 ft to 6 ft, period short at 8 seconds, and the combined energy is weak to moderate—252 to 509. It’s just not happening. That carries on through Monday the 14th and into Tuesday the 15th with onshore winds picking up again, 19 mph from the NW, straight onto the bank.
Wednesday the 16th sees a bit more size, 6 ft from the WNW, period picking up to 10 seconds, and that combined energy jumps to 775—getting stronger. But the wind is still onshore, and conditions are described as poor. Thursday the 17th is more of the same: onshore winds hitting 22 mph, lumpy and messy. Friday the 18th has a longer period swell (13 seconds) and better energy (755), but the wind is cross-onshore, choppy. You’re not getting a clean wave.
Then Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th get ugly: strong breeze up to 25 mph, 8 ft to 8 ft swell, but it’s messy and lumpy. On Monday the 21st, the swell really fires up—10 ft from the WNW, period 13 seconds, combined energy a massive 2635—that’s strong to very strong energy. But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, so it’s going to be lumpy and blown out. This size (over 8 ft) is for experts only, and the wind will make it a challenge. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Now, after all that, we finally get a glimmer of hope. On Wednesday the 23rd of September, things turn around. The wind swings to light offshore from the SE, 9 mph, clean. Swell is 7 ft from the west, period 8 seconds, combined energy 514—moderate energy. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the standout of the whole outlook. It’s still a moderate-sized swell, but with that offshore wind, Fistral-North should clean up nicely. The crowd can be often here, so expect company.
Thursday the 24th holds clean with offshore winds in the morning, 16 mph, and a 5 ft west swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds. It’ll be clean but a little weaker on the energy side (319). The afternoon gets a bit windy. After that, Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th drop right off, swell down to 3 ft, energy weak, and the wind turns nasty again.
So, in summary: the first week and a half is a bust. The only proper window is Wednesday the 23rd, and maybe a bit of Thursday morning the 24th. That’s your best chance for a clean, surfable wave. Long-range, there’s a big swell showing for Sunday the 27th (7 ft, period 14 seconds, energy 1947), but the wind is cross-onshore again, so it’s likely messy. Fingers crossed the forecast shifts.
That’s how I’m reading it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Sat morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Wed morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 9 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | W 13 | W 12 | WSW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
239 | 396 | 625 | 502 | 432 | 262 | 189 | 143 | 137 | 333 | 412 | 425 | 667 | 487 | 400 | 308 | 375 | 577 | 752 | 584 | 232 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:54PM6.99m | 7:12AM6.75m | 7:29PM6.87m | 7:47AM6.62m | 8:04PM6.58m | 8:20AM6.34m | 8:38PM6.17m | 8:54AM5.95m | 9:13PM5.69m | 9:30AM5.49m | 9:51PM5.16m | 10:10AM5.00m | 10:36PM4.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:54PM0.03m | 1:15AM-0.02m | 1:28PM0.07m | 1:48AM0.15m | 2:02PM0.27m | 2:19AM0.45m | 2:34PM0.59m | 2:50AM0.85m | 3:07PM1.01m | 3:22AM1.30m | 3:42PM1.48m | 3:59AM1.78m | 4:26PM1.95m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 15 | W 15 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 13 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | — | W 9 | WNW 10 | W 10 | N 5 | — | — | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | WNW 12 |
9 | 4 | 625 | 502 | 7 | 262 | 189 | 143 | 137 | 83 | — | 425 | 667 | 487 | 14 | — | — | 3 | 752 | 584 | 111 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 13 | — | — | SW 12 | SW 12 | WNW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 5 | N 4 | SW 16 |
— | — | — | 7 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | — | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | W 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | — | — | WSW 7 |
239 | 396 | — | — | 432 | — | — | — | — | 333 | 412 | 30 | 108 | 52 | 400 | 308 | 375 | 577 | — | — | 232 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 232 | 205 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 133 | 232 | 96 | 42 | 96 | 487 | 545 | 232 | 214 | 240 | 214 | 616 |
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.










