Port Isaac Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what’s on the table for Port Isaac over the next couple of weeks.

First off, the water temp is sitting at 66°F with a 4°F anomaly – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might get away with a thinner spring suit, which is a bonus.

Right now, we’re looking at a pretty grim start. Sunday the 30th of August has some swell around – 4ft to 5ft from the west – but the wind is a mess. Fresh cross-off in the morning turns into a lumpy cross-chop by the afternoon, and there’s even a risk of thunderstorms. The combined energy is weak (269) so it’s not doing much. Honestly, you’d be better off staying dry.

Monday the 31st is worse. Swell builds to 8ft from the west, but it’s a short period (8 seconds) and the wind is howling from the northwest at 22 mph, cross-onshore. That’s lumpy, messy, and poor. The energy jumps to moderate (985) but it’s all for nothing. Not worth paddling out.

Tuesday the 1st of September offers a glimpse of something surfable. The morning has a clean 3ft west swell, gentle cross-off breeze from the southwest at 9 mph, and the energy is weak (165). The conditions are described as “very ordinary” but at least you can get a few. It’s better than the rest of the week, but still nothing to write home about.

From Wednesday the 2nd through to Friday the 4th, we’re stuck in a pattern of poor surf. Swell sizes fluctuate between 4ft and 7ft, all west or west-northwest, with periods around 7-8 seconds. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, ranging from moderate to fresh, and the energy sits between weak and moderate (163 to 507). It’s all choppy, lumpy, or cross-chop. Not your friend.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September see the swell drop off fast. We’re down to 2ft by Sunday morning, with light offshore winds from the southeast and clean conditions. The energy is weak (60) – it’s tiny. You could surf if you’re desperate, but it’s barely a ripple.

Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are a write-off. Swell is tiny (1.0ft to 3ft), and Tuesday brings strong onshore winds from the west at 25 mph, making a mess of even the small stuff. The energy is negligible (12 to 46). Stay home.

Things stay small through Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th. Thursday afternoon does show a little pulse: 4ft from the west-southwest with a clean cross-off breeze and gentle wind. The energy is weak (175) and the conditions are “very ordinary” but surfable. It’s not great, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Friday the 11th is back to poor: 5ft west swell, fresh cross-onshore wind, lumpy. Energy is moderate (283). Not worth it.

Saturday the 12th of September is the standout. Morning brings a clean 4ft west swell with light offshore wind from the south at 6 mph. The energy is weak (187) but the conditions are clean. By afternoon, it drops to 3ft, but the wind goes almost glassy from the southwest at 3 mph, making it clean again. This is the best window in the whole forecast – small but clean, and you’ll have the place to yourself if the crowds are only sometimes around. For a beginner-friendly spot like Port Isaac, this is your moment.

After that, Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th are tiny again – 1ft to 2ft, with glassy conditions but no real swell. The energy is very weak (31 to 57). Nothing happening.

So, if you’re after the best on offer, target Saturday the 12th of September. It’s the only day that ticks all the boxes: clean, light winds, and a bit of west swell. The rest of the period is a write-off, with a big gap of nothing from the 6th to the 10th, and then again from the 13th onwards. The long-range stuff is too uncertain to get excited about. Keep your eyes peeled for changes, but for now, that Saturday morning is your best bet.

Rusty.

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