
Surf Forecasts:
Fistral-South surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, N swell with 139 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fistral-South this week:
The surf forecast for Fistral-South over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fistral-South in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fistral-South over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
Well, I gotta be straight with you – this outlook is a tough one. For the next 16 days, it’s pretty much a flat spell. There are no real standout waves to get excited about. The water temp at Fistral-South is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only good news.
We kick off a long gap starting Friday, July 17th, and it just doesn't get going. The swell is tiny, almost non-existent, with heights mostly under 3 ft and periods that are short and weak. The combined energy is low, often in the double digits, with values like 18 and 25 – that’s weak, gutless stuff. The wind is all wrong too, mostly cross-onshore, chopping up what little bump there is.
We get a brief moment of calm on the morning of Tuesday, July 21st. The wind goes glassy, with a light easterly, and the swell bumps up to 3 ft from the NNW with a 6-second period. The combined energy hits 76. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. That’s the closest thing to a highlight, and it’s not saying much.
After that, it’s back to the same story. The wind picks up again, the swell stays tiny, and the conditions are poor. The second week of the outlook is a total write-off. We see some stronger winds, into the 25 mph range, and a little more energy (hitting 132 on July 28th), but it’s all messy, strong cross-onshore wind with lumpy, horrible conditions. The swell is just too small and the wind is way too strong for any kind of decent paddle surfing.
Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The waves aren't there for us.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NE by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the N by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | W 7 | N 5 | N 5 | WNW 11 | N 5 | N 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | N 5 | N 5 | W 9 | N 6 | N 5 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 12 | 13 | 39 | 75 | 92 | 4 | 18 | 28 | 12 | 24 | 64 | 42 | 33 | 31 | 40 | 57 | 14 | 74 | 23 | 7 | |
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 | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:23PM6.83m | 8:47AM6.34m | 9:08PM6.57m | 9:31AM6.06m | 9:52PM6.19m | 10:15AM5.70m | 10:37PM5.73m | 11:02AM5.33m | 11:26PM5.27m | 11:54AM4.98m | 00:23AM4.88m | 12:56PM4.72m | 1:30AM4.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:22PM0.24m | 2:51AM0.21m | 3:05PM0.43m | 3:34AM0.50m | 3:48PM0.75m | 4:17AM0.88m | 4:32PM1.13m | 5:01AM1.29m | 5:19PM1.53m | 5:49AM1.68m | 6:13PM1.88m | 6:45AM2.00m | 7:18PM2.13m | ||||||||
5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:23 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 6 | W 7 | W 9 | N 5 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | N 5 |
5 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 31 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 38 | 42 | 22 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 20 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 13 | SW 5 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | W 7 | SW 19 | W 12 | WNW 11 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | W 16 | W 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 8 |
12 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 33 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 11 | W 13 | — | W 21 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 18 | W 8 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 |
1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | — | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 4 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | — | N 5 | N 5 | — | N 5 | N 6 | — | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | — |
— | 5 | 13 | 39 | 75 | 92 | — | 18 | 28 | — | 23 | 64 | — | — | 27 | 40 | 57 | 164 | 74 | 23 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 281 | 1776 | 405 | 402 | 569 | 393 | 241 | 40 | 281 | 55 | 388 | 386 | 0 | 35 | 22 | 249 | 569 | 336 | 4 | 566 | 399 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Fistral-South Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Fistral-South provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fistral-South can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fistral-South 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-South) 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-South 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-South is 1 km (1 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.










