Surf Forecasts:
Fistral-South 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-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 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-South 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-South over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down what’s coming up for Fistral-South over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be honest – the first chunk is a grind. Small, messy, and the wind is just about always putting a chop on it. Not a lot to get excited about early on.
Water temp is sitting at 66°, a touch warmer than usual for the time of year – nothing wild, but it’s nice for a longer session.
First real chance to get wet comes Friday the 21st in the morning. We’ve got a clean little 1.0m swell from the west, period of 8 seconds, with combined energy at 195 (moderate). The wind’s light out of the ENE – cross-off and clean. It’s surfable, but just barely – nothing special, but you could grab a few without fighting the wind too much.
Then there’s a dead stretch for several days – tiny swell, onshore wind, choppy and weak. Not worth suiting up.
Things pick up a bit Tuesday the 25th in the morning. Swell is 0.8m from the WNW, period up to 10 seconds (starting to get a little groundswell feel), and combined energy at 144 (moderate). Wind is light southerly, cross-off, so the surface is clean. You’ll get a few, but it’s still ordinary.
The real standout is farther out – Tuesday the 1st of September in the morning. Mark that date. We’ve got 1.7m from the west, period 9 seconds, combined energy at 449 (strong), and wind out of the S at 20 km/h, cross-off and clean. This is the best window in the whole 16 days. Tide could play a part, but the conditions are lining up for some proper waves.
For the bigger days – Saturday the 29th has 1.9m from the west, but the wind is onshore from the NW, so it’ll be lumpy. That’s expert territory only. Anything over 1.5m (like that 1.9m) is too much for beginners, and short-period swells under 8 seconds (like around the 22nd and 26th) are weak and crumbly.
Crowds at Fistral-South are often there, so expect company when it gets good. The optimum direction for this spot is WSW, and we’re getting mostly W and WNW swells – close enough to work.
First week is a wash. Second week has a couple of windows, with August 25th morning and September 1st morning being the ones to pencil in. Not a classic run, but there’s hope.
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  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 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 |
| kJ | 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 |
| kJ | — | — | 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 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 143 | 157 | — | 287 | 430 | 791 | — | 21 | 42 | 55 | 51 | 65 | 40 | 23 | 19 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 217 | 138 | 73 | 217 | 285 | 138 | 58 | 22 | 0 | 40 | 270 | 264 | 231 | 40 | 40 | 391 | 243 | 401 | 392 | 40 |
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.
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