Surf Forecasts:
Gwithian surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, W swell with 736 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Gwithian this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Gwithian in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 1.2m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Gwithian over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, folks, Rusty here.
First up, the outlook for Gwithian is a bit of a tough one. The water temperature is sitting at 65°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. We’ve got some swell activity coming through, but it’s constantly let down by the wind. Most of the 16-day window is a write-off, with a long gap where nothing is worth getting wet for. Let's get into it.
We start off on Sunday the 16th with tiny, weak 1ft to 2ft WNW swells. The energy is weak (36), the period is short, and a cross-onshore breeze has it all choppy and messy. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th see the swell building to around 3ft to 4ft, and the wind swings onshore for a bit, but the wave energy is still only moderate (115-135) and the short period (6 seconds) means it’s weak and crumbly. The forecast still calls it poor.
Wednesday the 19th through to Saturday the 22nd sees a bump in size but the quality is still shot. Swells hit 5ft to 7ft with moderate to strong wave energy (up to 783), but it’s all onshore or cross-onshore winds. A 7ft swell on a beach break with onshore wind is just a washing machine. Definitely not one for the log.
Then we hit a big quiet spell. From Sunday the 23rd of August all the way through to Thursday the 27th, the swell drops right off. We’re looking at tiny waves from 0.7ft to 2ft, with weak energy (17 to 123). The winds do go clean and cross-offshore for a couple of days, which would be nice if there was any wave to ride, but there isn’t. On Thursday the 27th morning we get a brief moment of glassy conditions, but the swell is only 1.0ft. It’s a flat spell, plain and simple.
The forecast finally gets interesting around Friday the 28th of August. That morning, a new 6ft swell from the WSW shows up with moderate energy (541) and light cross-shore winds. It’s described as “marginal” due to tides, but it’s the first real pulse we’ve seen in over a week. Saturday the 29th morning looks even bigger, with a 6ft W swell and a nice long period of 12 seconds. The wave energy is very strong (946), but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, which will mess it up. It’s out of the west-northwest, which is the optimum direction, but the wind is a killer.
After that, it all goes downhill again into the first week of September, with strong winds and dropping swell.
The Standout: Honestly, the closest thing to a highlight is the morning of Friday the 28th of August. The 6ft swell from the west-southwest with clean, light cross-shore winds is the best combination of size and wind we get. It’s over a week away, so it’s promising but a long-range call. For the brave, Saturday the 29th morning will have size and power, but bring a kite if the wind is up, because a 6ft groundswell with a long period (12 seconds) and cross-onshore wind is going to be challenging but powerful for the experts.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 17°C on Sun afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 8 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 16 | W 11 | W 10 | N 5 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 12 | 61 | 120 | 92 | 112 | 89 | 155 | 327 | 439 | 721 | 661 | 639 | 340 | 157 | 93 | 64 | 20 | 48 | 34 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:35PM6.34m | 8:54AM5.95m | 9:13PM5.94m | 9:32AM5.59m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:57AM0.37m | 3:10PM0.56m | 3:32AM0.76m | 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 | ||||||||
— | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 8 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 6 | N 5 | NNW 6 | N 5 |
26 | 8 | 43 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 639 | 340 | 157 | 93 | 20 | 20 | 36 | 34 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | — | SW 18 | — | — | SSW 17 | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SSW 14 | N 6 | SSW 13 | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 10 | SE 6 |
3 | — | 12 | — | — | 28 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 23 | 20 | 48 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | SSW 15 | W 10 |
13 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 25 | 64 | 8 | 21 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | W 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 8 | W 9 | — | N 5 | — | N 5 | N 5 | — | ESE 4 | — |
4 | 8 | 61 | 120 | 92 | 112 | 89 | 155 | 327 | 439 | 721 | 661 | — | 7 | — | 33 | 18 | — | 16 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 253 | 329 | 249 | 214 | 211 | 279 | 251 | 1147 | 283 | 561 | 211 | 611 | 168 | 214 | 14 | 214 | 214 | 13 | 262 | 267 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











