Perranporth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good hard look at what’s going on for Perranporth over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough one. The swell is small, the wind is often a mess, and the surf quality is just not there for a solid paddle session for most of the run. There’s a long, quiet spell ahead, but one day does show a little promise if you’re patient.

The first chance to get wet comes on Wednesday, 12 August. The morning starts clean with a light breeze from the ENE, and a small 3ft swell from the west, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 124, so there’s a bit of push. The afternoon gets even better with a light offshore wind from the ESE, a clean 3ft west swell, and a period of 9 seconds. The energy is moderate at 139. This is the best of a very average lot. The swell is small, but it’s clean and ridable – perfect for a log or a fun mid-length. The water temperature is 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

After that, things fall apart. From Thursday, 13 August through to Saturday, 22 August, it’s a long slog of poor surf conditions. The wind swings onshore or cross-onshore, the swell stays small and weak, and the energy drops into the low two-digit values. On Thursday, 20 August and Friday, 21 August, the morning does show a clean offshore wind, but the swell is tiny – only 2ft to 1ft – so it’s really just a flat-day special.

Then, on Sunday, 23 August, a big pulse of swell hits. We’re talking 10ft from the west-northwest, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1436, indicating very strong wave energy. But here’s the kicker – the wind is howling from the north-northwest at 15 mph, making it a cross-onshore mess. The surf quality is poor, and with that size, it’s only for experts. The beach break is going to be a churned-up washing machine. Honestly, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The rest of the run into Monday, 25 August is poor, with onshore winds and weak, messy swell. The period does get very long at 15 seconds on Tuesday, 25 August, but with a tiny 2ft swell and a fresh onshore breeze, it’s not going to produce anything worth paddling out for.

So, the standout here is Wednesday, 12 August. It’s the only day with clean, ridable conditions. The crowds can be *sometimes* an issue at Perranporth, but with such small surf, it’ll be quiet. Don’t expect much after that. The forecast can change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more