Mawgan Porth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for your local stretch. I’m looking at the forecast for Mawgan Porth, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a long window ahead, but the first week is pretty grim. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small comfort while you’re waiting.

The problem early on is the wind. It’s mostly cross-onshore and fresh, blowing straight into the waves and messing them up. Tuesday 1st September is a write-off: cloudy, a cross-on breeze at 16 mph, and a weak 3ft swell from the west with a short 9-second period. The combined energy is a paltry 162, so there’s just no power. Wednesday and Thursday don’t get any better, with stronger winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell does build a touch, with a 6ft swell on Wednesday afternoon, but the wind is onshore and the period is still short at 8 seconds, so it’s just a messy wall of water.

There’s a real gap here. Nothing worth paddling out for until the weekend.

Then, finally, a glimmer. Saturday 5th September morning is the standout. The wind drops to absolutely nothing – glassy conditions. The swell is 4ft from the west with a 10-second period, giving a combined energy of 306. It’s a clean, workable wave. The water is still that touch warmer, so it’s a nice morning. The afternoon loses the magic, with a light cross-onshore breeze chopping it up.

After that, we go back into a slump. Sunday the 6th is tiny, with only 2ft, and the wind is cross-offshore, which cleans it up but leaves it flat. The energy is down to 64. Monday the 7th sees a much bigger pulse of swell – 7ft from the west with a 13-second period, and the energy hits 1452. That’s a proper groundswell. But the wind is onshore at 10 mph, and the forecast is marginal, so it’s one for the experts only, and the conditions are questionable. It’s a big, powerful wave, but not clean.

The rest of the first week is a washout with strong winds and rain. The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. There’s a window on Friday 11th September afternoon with a 4ft swell from the west and an offshore breeze from the east at 10 mph. That’s clean, but the period is short at 8 seconds, so the waves will be a bit weak and crumbly. The energy is 255.

Then on Monday 14th September, there’s a bigger swell, 6ft from the west, but it’s cross-offshore and clean. The problem is the wind is fresh at 19 mph, which will make it hard work. The energy is 463, so there’s push, but it’s a battle.

The best of the second week might be the morning of Tuesday 15th September. There’s a 7ft, 12-second period swell from the west with a whopping 1342 energy. The wind is onshore, but light at 10 mph. It’s a marginal call, but that’s a lot of power for a beginner. For the experienced crew, it could be a big, clean wave if the direction holds. That’s your best bet in the second week, but it’s a long way off and the wind could swing.

Wednesday 16th September has a 6ft, 11-second period swell with a light cross-on breeze. The energy is 757. It’s another marginal one, but it’s a better bet for a more manageable size.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off until Saturday 5th September morning. That’s your one true standout for a clean, fun session. After that, it’s a waiting game for the bigger swells in the second week, but you’ll need to watch the wind. The forecast is uncertain that far out, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Read more