Mawgan Porth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The outlook for Mawgan Porth is a bit of a tough one to swallow. The data shows a long stretch of poor surf conditions that runs right through the entire 16-day window. Honestly, there isn't a single day where I'd say "get the board and go." The first recommendation doesn't come until the 13th of August, and even then, it's a real struggle.

The Overall Pattern

Right from the start, on August 1st, we're looking at tiny, weak swell with a combined energy of just 47 (weak) and cross-onshore winds messing things up. That sets the tone. We get a bit of a bump in wave height around the 5th and 6th of August, with swell hitting 6ft, but the energy is high (317 and 268 – moderate) and the period is a short, choppy 7 seconds. The winds are onshore and strong, making it a complete washout. This pattern of onshore winds and messy, short-period swell dominates the forecast.

There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 13th of August that stands out as the only real glimmer of hope. We've got a 4ft swell from the WSW, and the wind is glassy. The combined energy is 167 (moderate), and the period is 8 seconds. The guidance says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s not going to be epic, but it will be clean. For a beginner spot, this is the one time you might get a few fun, knee-to-waist high waves without the chop. The water temperature is about 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

For the rest of the period, it's a sad story. The swell builds again on the 16th of August, hitting 7ft-8ft from the WNW with a very strong combined energy of 526 and 639, but with a short, weak period of 8 seconds and onshore winds. At that size, it’s too big for beginners, and with the wind, it will be a messy, lumpy close-out for everyone else. For a beach/river break like Mawgan Porth, the setup with strong onshore winds and a short-period swell just looks more like a kite-surfing session than a paddle-surfing one.

The One Highlight

- 13th August (Thursday) Morning: This is your only chance. The glassy conditions are the key. If you can get out there, that 4ft swell from the WSW will be as clean as it gets. The break is a river mouth, which can be fickle, but it's rated as "fairly consistent." The optimum swell direction is WNW, so the WSW swell is a bit off that, but the clean conditions will make it ridable. Expect a crowd, as it's listed as "sometimes" busy. It’s not a standout by any means, but it’s the best on offer.

The Long Gap

After the 13th, we're back into a stretch of poor quality. The swell stays around 4ft to 5ft, but the winds are back to cross-onshore and onshore, making it choppy and bumpy. The 16th of August brings a bigger swell, but it's ugly. So, from the 14th through the 16th, it’s a write-off.

Final word: The 16-day window is a blank run for proper surf. The 13th morning is your only window, and it's a gamble. That’s the reality of the area sometimes.

Rusty.

Read more