Surf Forecasts:
Gwithian surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, WNW swell with 589 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 1.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Gwithian over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s look at this in feet and miles.
This is going to be a tough stretch for Gwithian. For the next week or more, the wind is howling onshore and the surf quality is just poor. The first real glimmer of something good doesn't show up until the end of the month. There’s a long, quiet gap with no real swell to get excited about, just messy, blown-out conditions.
The one true standout is a very specific window on Sunday the 30th of August. The afternoon session looks glassy, with a dead calm, no wind. The swell will be a solid 8ft from the west with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1006, which is proper power. This is big stuff though, over 8ft, so this is strictly for the experienced crew who know how to handle a heavy beach break. For the rest of us, it’s a spectator sport.
Before that, the morning of Friday the 28th of August has a chunky 10ft west-southwest swell with a 10-second period and very light wind (3 mph), but the conditions are described as marginal. The combined energy is a massive 1561, so there’s a heap of water moving around.
On the last day of the forecast, Tuesday the 1st of September, you’ve got a 5ft west swell, but the wind is onshore again at 16 mph, so it’s not much to write home about. That Sunday the 30th is the one to circle on the calendar. Get it while it’s glassy, because after that the wind looks set to turn ugly again.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | N 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 60 | 138 | 75 | 134 | 134 | 175 | 326 | 247 | 570 | 540 | 589 | 300 | 136 | 100 | 47 | 45 | 41 | 54 | 34 | 51 | 34 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | N 5 | W 10 | NNW 5 | W 9 | N 5 | SW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 43 | 12 | 10 | 28 | 11 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 36 | 21 | 589 | 300 | 136 | 100 | 23 | 45 | 15 | 25 | 34 | 51 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | — | S 19 | W 8 | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | — | SW 14 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | W 8 | N 4 | W 9 | SW 15 | W 9 | W 9 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 12 | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | 33 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 47 | 9 | 41 | 54 | 14 | 6 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | ESE 5 | SW 14 | ESE 6 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 17 | 17 | 39 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 31 | 3 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | N 5 | E 5 | N 5 | N 5 |
| kJ | 60 | 138 | 75 | 134 | 134 | 175 | 326 | 247 | 570 | 540 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 12 | 17 | 31 | 34 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 399 | 214 | 279 | 296 | 211 | 191 | 210 | 211 | 369 | 168 | 211 | 13 | 38 | 14 | 87 | 13 | 25 | 13 | 294 | 13 | 14 |
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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