Perranporth Surf Break

Lat Long: 50.35° N 5.16° W

Perranporth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Perranporth sea temperature is
18.4° C
1.5° 

Perranporth surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Perranporth surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, W swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with 627 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with W swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Perranporth this week:

The surf forecast for Perranporth over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Perranporth in the next 16 days are 2.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 20th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Perranporth over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right then, let’s talk about the surf here in the UK. It’s been a grim stretch, and to be honest, the next couple of weeks aren’t going to win any awards. We’ve got a long wait for anything decent, but there is a tiny window of opportunity if you’re patient.

The main issue is the wind. We’ve got a solid run of onshore and cross-onshore winds from the west and northwest that are just tearing up the surface. The first proper recommendation doesn’t come until Saturday morning, August 22nd at Perranporth. The swell is small, just 2ft, but it’s swinging in from the west with a 10-second period, which is a clean, long-period groundswell. The real kicker is the wind: a light offshore from the east, with a gentle breeze, creating clean, glassy conditions. The wave energy is weak (117), so it’s not going to be pumping, but it’ll be a nice, soft, clean wave for a paddle. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick steamer. That Saturday afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze, but it’s even smaller.

We then hit a massive flat spell. From Sunday, August 23rd, right through to Tuesday, August 25th, the swell completely drops out. Swell heights are barely 0.7ft to 1ft. Even with fresh offshore winds, there’s just no water moving. You’d be floating.

The next faint glimmer comes on Wednesday, August 26th, with a 4ft southwest swell, but it’s a short period of 7 seconds and the wind is a fresh cross-offshore. It’s clean, but it’s weak and messy. Not worth a special trip.

The real story, and probably the only thing that gets the heart beating, is a big, raw pulse that arrives right at the end of the forecast. On Saturday, August 29th, the swell jumps to 8ft from the west-southwest, with a combined energy of 933 (moderate). That’s a chunky wave. However, the wind is a strong cross-shore, creating a lumpy, choppy mess. It’s not a classic. Then on Sunday, August 30th, the swell peaks at 10ft to 12ft with a 10-second period, and the energy rockets to 2290 (strong). That’s serious power. But again, the wind is a fresh cross-onshore. This setup is big, raw, and blown out. For a beach break like Perranporth, this is more interesting for the kite surfers than the paddle crew. It’s only for experts who are happy in challenging, lumpy conditions.

The rest of the window into early September is a repeat of the same story: big swells (8ft to 10ft) but with onshore and cross-onshore winds that will trash the surface. The best of a bad bunch is the Saturday morning, August 29th window, but even that is far from perfect. The standout for the whole period, if you are desperate for a paddle, is that Saturday morning, August 22nd – small, clean, and offshore. It’s the only true classic window.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Thu morning, light winds from the NE by Sat night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Sun morning, fresh winds from the E by Mon morning).

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
W
9
2
WNW
9
1.4
W
9
1
W
8
0.8
WNW
8
0.5
W
8
0.9
NNW
6
0.5
W
9
0.4
W
9
0.2
WSW
14
0.2
WSW
14
0.2
WSW
14
0.2
W
9
0.2
WSW
13
0.2
W
8
0.3
WNW
10
0.4
WNW
9
0.5
W
9
1.4
SW
8
1.4
W
8
1.3
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
710
627
339
136
90
32
56
40
24
19
18
19
8
17
7
19
28
39
229
258
276
Wind (km/h)
30
WNW
25
NW
15
N
25
N
20
NNW
10
N
15
E
15
NE
15
NNE
10
E
10
NE
15
NE
30
E
35
ESE
35
ESE
25
ESE
20
SSE
15
S
30
S
30
SSE
20
WSW
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
10:52AM4.83m
11:20PM4.59m
11:51AM4.44m
00:32AM4.24m
1:16PM4.23m
2:06AM4.17m
2:47PM4.35m
3:25AM4.40m
3:52PM4.70m
4:18AM4.77m
4:39PM5.13m
4:59AM5.18m
5:16PM5.57m
Low Tide
5:10PM1.88m
5:37AM2.10m
6:16PM2.23m
6:55AM2.37m
7:50PM2.36m
8:32AM2.35m
9:20PM2.18m
9:47AM2.05m
10:19PM1.81m
10:37AM1.64m
11:02PM1.39m
11:16AM1.23m
11:39PM0.98m
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
light rain
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:15
6:16
6:18
6:20
6:20
6:22
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:30
8:29
8:27
8:24
8:22
8:21
8:19
 mm
2
1
1
3
3
3
Temp °C
18
17
15
16
15
15
18
18
17
19
19
18
20
20
19
21
22
18
19
18
17
Feels °C
13
12
12
11
10
13
15
15
14
16
16
16
12
13
13
19
21
18
16
14
15
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Perranporth Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Perranporth provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Perranporth can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Perranporth 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 (Perranporth) 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 Perranporth 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.

Perranporth is 9 km (6 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.

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