Surf Forecasts:
Fistral-South surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, WNW swell with 669 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fistral-South this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Fistral-South in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fistral-South over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and listen up, because I'm looking at the next couple of weeks here at Fistral South, and it's a bit of a mixed bag. We've got a slow start, a decent pulse of energy mid-week, and then a weird long-period blip to close things out.
Right now, and for the first week, honestly, it's pretty grim. The water temp is sitting at 66°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, but that's about the only good news. The swell is small, mostly under 3 ft, with a period barely scraping 9 seconds, so it's weak and disorganized. The wind is a mess, mostly cross-onshore, making things choppy. We're looking at a combined energy of only 123 (weak) on Friday afternoon, and it doesn't get much better through the weekend. We've got a solid gap of poor conditions until the middle of the week.
The first real sign of life pops up around Wednesday the 19th. The swell starts to push up to 5 ft to 6 ft from the WNW, with a short period of 6-7 seconds. The energy jumps to 327 (moderate), but the wind is still onshore and fresh, so it'll be lumpy and messy. This is more for the experienced guys who want to get bashed around a bit. Not a standout.
Honestly, the only glimmer of hope is way out there on the 25th and 26th. Tuesday the 25th sees a building swell from the WSW, hitting 6 ft with a period of 9 seconds. The energy is strong at 506 – that's a real shot of power. But the wind is onshore, so it's a gamble. Then on Wednesday, the 26th, we get a brief window of clean conditions. The morning has a cross-off wind from the SSW, with a 4 ft swell from the west at 10 seconds. The energy is still solid at 335 (moderate). This is the only time in the whole forecast period that the conditions line up for a proper surf. The wave quality looks good, and that cross-off wind will clean it right up. The swell is a bit small for that amount of energy, but it's the best we've got.
After that, it's back to small, short-period slop and more onshore winds. The very end of the period, around the 29th, we see a weird 3 ft swell from the WSW with a very long period of 15 seconds. The energy is 426 (strong), but it's a groundswell – those long-period waves can be tricky on a beach break, often breaking too straight. Plus, the wind is cross-onshore, so it'll be choppy again. That's one for the optimists.
So, there's really only one standout: the morning of Wednesday, August 26th. It's not epic, but it's the cleanest, most promising session we'll see. The water is still warm, the wind is right, and the swell has some shape. Get on it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the WNW by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 5 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
123 | 107 | 82 | 74 | 44 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 40 | 99 | 76 | 92 | 69 | 113 | 160 | 317 | 669 | 300 | 101 | 115 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 7:19PM7.04m | 7:40AM6.69m | 7:58PM6.95m | 8:18AM6.55m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:44AM-0.06m | 1:57PM0.07m | 2:22AM0.10m | 2:35PM0.27m | 2:58AM0.40m | 3:11PM0.60m | 3:33AM0.81m | 3:48PM1.02m | 4:08AM1.28m | 4:27PM1.49m | 4:48AM1.75m | 5:13PM1.94m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 16 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 17 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 8 |
123 | 107 | 82 | 74 | 40 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 26 | 99 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 29 | 10 | 23 | 300 | 101 | 115 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 13 | — | — | — | WSW 8 | N 4 | W 18 | W 18 | SW 18 | — | SW 17 | SW 17 | — | WNW 11 | — | — | SW 14 | WSW 14 | W 9 |
— | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 12 | — | 11 | 11 | — | 12 | — | — | 8 | 20 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | 19 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 3 | N 5 | N 4 | N 5 | N 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | — | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | N 5 | NW 6 | N 5 |
— | 5 | 43 | 26 | 44 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 40 | — | 76 | 92 | 69 | 113 | 160 | 317 | 669 | 25 | 96 | 16 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 41 | 405 | 249 | 58 | 40 | 270 | 239 | 401 | 217 | 293 | 281 | 35 | 212 | 762 | 231 | 298 | 96 | 140 | 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.











