Surf Forecasts:
Gwithian surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, W swell with 222 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Gwithian this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Gwithian in the next 16 days are 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Gwithian over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Grab a coffee, let’s see what’s happening on our little stretch of coast.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week to ten days are looking grim for a proper surf. We’ve got a whole lot of poor conditions and not a lot of juice. The water's sitting at about 65°F, which is a touch warmer than what we’d normally expect this time of year, so that’s a small win.
We’re in for a long, dry spell here. From now until August 22nd, there is really nothing worth paddling out for. We’re looking at tiny, weak swells with onshore winds messing everything up. Friday the 14th through to the weekend is a write-off – we’re talking 1ft to 3ft of slop with moderate to fresh breezes from the wrong directions. It’ll be choppy and lumpy, and the wave energy is barely there (129 to 35). Don’t bother.
That quiet period drags on through the next week. By the 22nd, we get a brief moment of glassy conditions on Saturday morning with a 1ft swell from the west, but it’s just too small to ride. You’d be floating more than surfing.
Now, the first real glimmer of hope shows up on Sunday, August 23rd. It’s a bit of a curveball. Gwithian will see a clean, 3ft swell from the north with a light breeze that’s cross-offshore. It’s surfable, but the conditions are described as “very ordinary” and the wave energy is modest at 145. It’s not a day to get excited about, but if you’re desperate for a slide, that’s your window.
The story picks up a bit on Monday the 18th with some bigger swell rolling in, but don’t get your hopes up. We see 5ft from the west-northwest, but the wind is howling onshore at 19 mph. The energy is moderate (234), but the quality is poor. That trend of onshore wind and bumpy conditions hangs around until the 22nd.
Around Wednesday, August 27th, we start to see a shift. The swell builds to 8ft from the west-southwest by the afternoon, with a light breeze and a decent period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 848, which is moderate to strong, but the surf quality is still only marginal. It’s a building swell, but not clean enough to shout about.
The real standout, and I mean the one to circle on your calendar, is Friday, August 28th. The models are showing a big pulse of west swell, 16ft at a long 13-second period. The wind is moderate and cross-offshore from the northeast, leaving the faces clean. However, I have to be honest – at 16ft, this is only for experts. That is a fat, powerful groundswell with an enormous amount of energy behind it (8564). It’s going to be meaty and challenging. The break will be handling a lot of water, and paddling out will be a mission between sets. For the experienced crew who know the bank, this could be a proper session, but beginners should stay well clear.
Saturday the 29th still has a solid 13ft west swell (11-second period) with clean conditions in the morning and a fresh cross-shore breeze. Again, this is big and heavy (4408 energy), definitely expert territory.
So, to wrap it up: the next week is a bust. Your best bet is the big, powerful west swell arriving on the 28th and 29th, but only if you’ve got the skill and the courage to handle it. For everyone else, maybe go for a walk.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
129 | 123 | 165 | 100 | 95 | 55 | 18 | 26 | 12 | 40 | 138 | 153 | 206 | 175 | 200 | 181 | 181 | 181 | 108 | 74 | 48 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:17PM6.70m | 7:38AM6.36m | 7:56PM6.61m | 8:16AM6.22m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:17PM0.02m | 1:43AM-0.08m | 1:56PM0.05m | 2:21AM0.08m | 2:34PM0.24m | 2:57AM0.37m | 3:10PM0.56m | 3:32AM0.76m | 3:47PM0.96m | 4:08AM1.21m | 4:26PM1.41m | 4:48AM1.66m | 5:13PM1.84m | ||||||||
6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 8 |
129 | 123 | 165 | 100 | 95 | 55 | 18 | 26 | 8 | 40 | 12 | 10 | 28 | 11 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 108 | 74 | 48 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | SW 13 | — | — | SW 12 | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | SW 18 | — | S 19 | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 |
3 | 3 | 7 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | 12 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 22 | 21 | 33 | 19 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 10 | — | — | S 20 | WSW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | W 8 |
3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | N 5 | N 5 | N 4 |
— | — | — | 26 | 20 | 18 | — | — | 5 | 19 | 138 | 153 | 206 | 175 | 200 | 181 | 181 | 181 | 33 | 25 | 12 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 45 | 14 | 253 | 279 | 184 | 212 | 397 | 249 | 399 | 588 | 211 | 158 | 214 | 247 | 14 | 168 | 123 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
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.











