Mawgan Porth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Mawgan Porth.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for a proper surf. We’ve got a long, frustrating gap where the conditions just aren’t cooperating. The first proper day with any real hope is actually far off, and even then it’s a bit touch and go. Let’s break it down.

We start the forecast period now, but there’s nothing worth paddling out for until much later. The first solid recommendation doesn’t come until Thursday, the 17th of September. That’s a painful week and a half of waiting. From now until then, it’s mostly a mess of cross-onshore winds, lumpy and choppy seas, and just poor surf quality. You get a little burst of energy on the 8th of September, with a 7ft to 7ft swell from the W and WNW, but it’s blown out by a fresh NNW wind at 22 mph. Moderate wave energy (705-677) but it’s ugly out there. Not worth it.

The first faint glimmer is on Thursday morning, the 17th of September. We see the wind drop to glassy conditions – a total calm. The swell is small, only 2ft from the W with a 9-second period, and the energy is weak (92). It’s described as surfable but very ordinary. For a river break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the WNW, this is a low point. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s a small comfort.

Now, the true standout – the one you’ve been waiting for – arrives on Saturday, the 19th of September. The morning session is the pick of the entire forecast. We get a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 6 mph. The swell jumps to 4ft from the W, but the real story is the period: 14 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, packing decent energy (327). This is a point where longer-period swells can really shine at a river break like this, offering shape and power. It’s not massive, so it’s fine for the beginner-friendly setup here, but the clean conditions will make it feel a lot better. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out, but it won’t be a zoo.

Following that, Sunday morning the 20th of September offers another clean window, with a cross-offshore wind from the NNE at 9 mph. The swell drops to 3ft from the W, still with a 10-second period and a weak energy (153). It’s surfable and clean, but nothing special after the Saturday morning highlight.

Later in the forecast, we get another pulse of energy on Wednesday the 23rd of September. The morning shows a 3ft swell from the WNW, but with a very long 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy (456). However, the accompanying wind is a moderate NNE breeze at 16 mph that’s cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The catch? The swell is still only knee-to-waist high. The long period means it’ll be structured and maybe offer a few fun ones, but the size is a letdown. The afternoon is ruined by a fresh cross-shore wind.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Saturday morning, 19th of September. Clean, cross-offshore wind, a long-period ground swell, and a manageable size. That’s your window. The rest is either blown out, too small, or just ordinary.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts. It won't stay this way forever.

Rusty.

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