Surf Forecasts:
Perran Sands surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, W swell with 694 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Perran Sands this week:
The surf forecast for Perran Sands over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Perran Sands in the next 16 days are 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Perran Sands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. It’s a bit of a flat, frustrating stretch for us here at Perran Sands. The next couple of weeks are mostly a waiting game, with the ocean looking pretty average and gutless for the most part. Water temp is sitting at 66°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least you won't need a thick suit for the paddles out.
The opening days are rough. We've got a classic onshore wind pattern setting in, with the swell clocking in around the 3ft mark and a short, weak 8-second period. The energy is weak, around 130 (moderate wave energy), and it’s going to be a choppy mess. Monday afternoon is a write-off, and Tuesday and Wednesday are more of the same, just with a bit more size but still messy and cross-onshore. The wind is up around 19-25 mph, and combined with the short period, it's not going to be pretty.
Thursday the 20th picks up a little more swell, up to 5ft to 6ft, and the energy jumps to a moderate 420-600. But the wind goes straight onshore, which kills any chance of it being rideable, especially for beginners. It’s just a wall of lumpy whitewater.
By Friday the 21st, the swell drops right back and it’s small and weak again. The wind goes light, but the damage is done. We’re looking at about a week of this poor to mediocre stuff. There’s a tiny window Saturday afternoon where the wind goes cross-off and it turns clean, but the swell is only 2ft, which is barely surfable. After that, it just dies. Sunday and Monday the 23rd and 24th are essentially flat, with the swell fading to 0.7ft. You could almost water-ski on it.
There is a pulse of energy from the south on the 25th, but it’s pushing in with a fresh cross-off breeze and only offering up 3ft waves. It’s clean, but still not doing much. Then we get another onshore spell and blown-out conditions heading into the 26th. It’s a real test of patience.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The long-range forecast is showing something with real potential. Mark your calendars for the 28th of August, a Friday. We’ve got a proper groundswell coming in from the west, with the swell building to 7ft and the period pushing up to 9 seconds. The energy is jumping to a strong 579. The wind is forecast to be a fresh cross-off from the SSW, which will groom it nicely. This is looking like the standout, the one worth waiting for. It’ll have some punch to it at 7ft, so it’s not one for the beginners, but for the rest of us, it’s time to get excited.
That swell continues to build into Saturday the 29th, but the wind swings onshore from the NW, and it gets a bit too big and raw at 8ft, making it only really for experts. Even then, the onshore flow will make it a battle. The energy is strong at 847, but it’s not going to be clean.
After that, there’s a couple of days of strong, messy winds and rain, with the swell hanging in there but the quality dropping. However, the real gem is the following Tuesday, the 1st of September. That’s over a week away, so don’t hold me to it, but the models are showing a significant burst of energy. We’re talking sizeable swell, hitting 10ft, with a long 11-second period. That’s a serious groundswell, and the energy readings are off the charts at almost 2066. The wind is looking clean and cross-off. This is the sort of swell that will get the heart pumping, but it’s a big one. At 10ft, it’s strictly for the experts, and with that long period, it might break a bit straight on the beach. You’d want to be at a reef or a point for this one. It’s promising, but it’s still a long way out.
So, there you have it. A whole lot of nothing for the next week, but the potential for a strong finish at the end of the month and a proper bomb in the first days of September. I'd be keeping an eye on the 28th as the most realistic standout, and that Tuesday the 1st as one hell of a promise. The water is warm, so just be patient and pick your moments.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 17°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 7 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | N 5 | N 5 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
165 | 135 | 180 | 276 | 186 | 475 | 694 | 540 | 230 | 109 | 46 | 35 | 41 | 39 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:33AM5.88m | 9:53PM5.75m | 10:13AM5.43m | 10:34PM5.22m | 10:57AM4.97m | 11:25PM4.73m | 11:55AM4.57m | 00:36AM4.36m | 1:20PM4.36m | 2:10AM4.29m | 2:52PM4.47m | 3:30AM4.52m | 3:57PM4.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:48PM1.02m | 4:08AM1.28m | 4:27PM1.49m | 4:48AM1.75m | 5:13PM1.94m | 5:40AM2.17m | 6:19PM2.31m | 6:58AM2.45m | 7:54PM2.45m | 8:37AM2.43m | 9:24PM2.25m | 9:51AM2.12m | 10:24PM1.87m | ||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 9 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 4 |
11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 61 | 23 | 8 | 540 | 230 | 109 | 46 | 35 | 41 | 39 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | N 5 | W 9 | SW 16 | N 4 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | N 5 | SW 13 | W 8 |
— | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | 20 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 10 | 6 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 12 | — | — | — | N 5 | SW 14 | — | WNW 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | — | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 7 | W 8 | W 9 | — | N 6 | — | N 5 | N 4 | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 4 | N 4 | — | — | — |
165 | 135 | 180 | 276 | 186 | 475 | 694 | — | 50 | — | 15 | 20 | — | 20 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 289 | 276 | 215 | 148 | 215 | 215 | 276 | 148 | 145 | 34 | 3 | 34 | 70 | 8 | 0 | 281 | 12 | 35 | 245 | 404 | 497 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Perran Sands Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Perran Sands provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Perran Sands can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Perran Sands 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 (Perran Sands) 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 Perran Sands 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.
Perran Sands is 7 km (4 miles) from Newquay. If you plan a holiday in North Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in Newquay. Newquay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











