Surf Forecasts:
Gwithian surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, WNW swell with 748 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period with W 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Gwithian in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
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’s coming up for Gwithian. I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half or so is a bit of a write-off. We've got a long gap of poor conditions ahead. It's not until Thursday, August 31st that things finally start to look interesting, and even then, it’s for the experts only.
From Monday, August 19th through to Wednesday, August 28th, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore and the swell is either too small, too messy, or both. The combined wave energy is weak to moderate (e.g. 119 to 894), and with WNW winds blowing 12 to 25 mph, it’s just not worth paddling out. On Wednesday, August 21st, we see a brief moment where a NE wind at 6 mph makes it clean, but the swell is a weak 1 ft to 3 ft with a short period of 8 seconds. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.
The only true standout in this whole 16-day window is the morning of Thursday, August 31st. It’s a big one, but it’s no beginner wave. We’ve got a powerful, very long-period groundswell rolling in from the WNW at 8 ft, with a period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 3156. This is a serious, heavy swell. It’s a cross-onshore wind from the SW at 12 mph, which keeps it a bit lumpy and choppy. This is strictly for experienced surfers only; anything over 8 ft is expert territory, and this is right on the borderline.
Then on the afternoon of the 31st, the wind swings to the S at 22 mph, going cross-offshore, which cleans it up a touch, but the swell stays big at 8 ft. The period drops to 14 seconds, still a solid groundswell, and the energy is still a massive 2506. Again, this is only for the experienced crew who know how to handle a big, powerful wave at a fairly exposed beach break like Gwithian. It’s still not perfect because of the strong wind, but it’s the most interesting window we have.
The water temperature anomaly is not flagged, so it’s pretty average for this time of year. Don’t expect any warm surprises.
So yeah, nearly two weeks of flat or messy conditions before we finally get some serious power. It’s a long wait, but that August 31st has some serious grunt for those who can handle it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed night, light winds from the NE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 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) | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | N 6 | N 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 64 | 115 | 62 | 134 | 139 | 212 | 261 | 373 | 748 | 675 | 495 | 235 | 130 | 85 | 39 | 102 | 105 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 2:51PM4.25m | 3:28AM4.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:35AM2.30m | 9:23PM2.13m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | SW 18 | — | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 43 | 12 | — | 28 | 11 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 36 | 21 | 495 | 235 | 130 | 85 | 35 | 52 | 47 | 27 | 25 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | — | SW 16 | W 8 | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | — | SW 14 | N 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 12 | — | 10 | 4 | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | 33 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 39 | 21 | 21 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 11 | NW 8 | SW 12 | W 6 | E 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | N 5 | — | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 4 | N 4 | N 3 |
| kJ | 64 | 115 | 62 | 134 | 139 | 212 | 261 | 373 | 748 | 675 | 12 | — | 31 | 25 | 23 | 102 | 105 | 33 | 15 | 9 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 275 | 254 | 279 | 296 | 211 | 223 | 560 | 211 | 430 | 158 | 115 | 13 | 0 | 22 | 214 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 160 |
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.
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