Surf Forecasts:
Gwithian surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, W swell with 726 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Gwithian this week:
The surf forecast for Gwithian over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Gwithian in the next 16 days are 2.1m 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Gwithian over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Gwithian’s got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. Through the entire 16-day window, the surf quality is graded as poor, with almost every session getting a zero. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with next to nothing worth paddling out for. The main issue is that the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, and when it’s not, the swell is tiny or completely jumbled.
The first real chance for a wave comes on Saturday, August 22nd. There’s a tiny window in the afternoon – the wind goes glassy, which is a beautiful thing. The swell is a meagre 3ft from the North, but with a period of only 6 seconds, it’s weak, wobbley stuff. The combined energy is a low 100, so it’s barely a pulse. The water temp is 64°F with a 1°F anomaly, so just a touch warmer than average for this time of year. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The next notable bump isn’t until Tuesday, August 25th. Tuesday afternoon sees a bit of a lift with 4ft swell from the West, a period of 10 seconds, and a cross-offshore wind from the South at 19 mph. The combined energy jumps to 353, so there’s some moderate grunt there. The wind makes it clean, but the overall score is still poor – the swell is a bit raw and the direction is a bit off.
By Thursday, August 27th, we get a bit more size. The morning shows 6ft from the West with a period of 8 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore wind from the SSE at 25 mph. That’s a strong breeze, but the clean face will be a welcome sight. The energy is moderate at 338. It’s still not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.
Looking further out, the end of the first week of September brings a solid pulse. Tuesday, September 1st has a 10ft swell from the WSW, but with an 8-second period and a strong cross-onshore wind from the NNW at 25 mph. That’s a big, messy, lumpy mess – only for the die-hards or the kite crew. The combined energy is a whopping 1016, which is strong, but the wind will tear it apart. Too big for beginners, and the conditions will be punishing for everyone.
Honestly, if I had to pick a single standout, and it’s a weak one, it’s that glassy Saturday afternoon on August 22nd. The 3ft with zero wind is the cleanest you’ll see, but you’ll be fighting for scraps. Otherwise, the Tuesday afternoon on August 25th offers the best combo of moderate size and clean conditions. Everything else is just a fight against the wind or flat.
Stay patient, lads. It’s a rough run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed night, light winds from the N by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | N 6 | N 5 | NNW 6 | N 6 | W 9 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
165 | 161 | 143 | 254 | 315 | 475 | 726 | 681 | 347 | 161 | 96 | 55 | 117 | 54 | 14 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 19 | 18 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:51PM5.46m | 10:11AM5.16m | 10:33PM4.95m | 10:55AM4.73m | 11:23PM4.49m | 11:54AM4.34m | 00:34AM4.14m | 1:19PM4.14m | 2:09AM4.07m | 2:51PM4.25m | 3:28AM4.30m | 3:56PM4.59m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 3:47PM0.96m | 4:08AM1.21m | 4:26PM1.41m | 4:48AM1.66m | 5:13PM1.84m | 5:40AM2.06m | 6:18PM2.19m | 6:57AM2.32m | 7:53PM2.32m | 8:35AM2.30m | 9:23PM2.13m | 9:50AM2.01m | 10:22PM1.77m | ||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SW 17 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | N 6 | N 5 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 4 |
28 | 11 | 143 | 254 | 24 | 36 | 21 | 681 | 347 | 161 | 86 | 38 | 35 | 54 | 13 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 4 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 15 | — | SW 14 | N 4 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 8 | N 4 | SSW 14 | W 8 |
— | — | 29 | 24 | — | 22 | — | 33 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 39 | 21 | 22 | 13 | 32 | 32 | 12 | 3 | 18 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 7 | SW 12 | W 9 | W 9 | E 5 | WNW 6 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | N 4 | SSW 13 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 25 | 25 | 11 | 6 | 24 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 32 | 19 | 1 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 6 | — | — | WNW 10 | W 8 | W 9 | — | — | N 5 | N 6 | N 5 | NNW 6 | — | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 4 | — | WNW 4 | — |
165 | 161 | — | — | 315 | 475 | 726 | — | — | 46 | 96 | 55 | 117 | — | — | 28 | 15 | 6 | — | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 296 | 211 | 165 | 214 | 211 | 246 | 168 | 158 | 13 | 13 | 232 | 171 | 22 | 0 | 224 | 13 | 25 | 94 | 505 | 504 | 500 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Gwithian Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Gwithian provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Gwithian can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Gwithian 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 (Gwithian) 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 Gwithian 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.
Gwithian is 6 km (4 miles) from Camborne. If you plan a holiday in North Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in Camborne. Camborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











