Porth Ceriad Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me be straight with you – this is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell for the coast, with the first real hope not showing up for a while.

We start off flat. The first few days are a total write-off. Porth Ceriad sees nothing but tiny, weak dribble from the 24th through to the 31st of July. Winds are messy, and the swell energy is pathetic, often in single digits. It’s a real struggle just to find a ripple. The water temp on the 24th is sitting at a balmy 66°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, but there’s no surf to enjoy it in.

We finally get a pulse of energy on the 1st of August. The morning brings a 2ft swell from the WSW, but it’s onshore and messy. The afternoon sees a slight improvement with a 3ft swell from the same direction, but it’s a short-period 11 seconds and cross-shore. The combined energy jumps to 149 (moderate), but conditions are still ordinary. It’s not worth getting wet for.

The real tease comes on the morning of the 2nd of August. The swell is still a modest 2ft from the WSW, but the wind goes glassy. The water is like a mirror. It’s the first time the report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s frustrating because it’s so close to being good, but the swell is just too weak and short-period (10 seconds) to offer any real punch. The combined energy is only 62 (weak). That’s the best of a bad bunch right now.

After that, the wind goes to hell again. The 4th of August brings howling near-gale winds – 31 mph onshore and 34 mph cross-onshore – with a 3ft swell that’s blown to bits. The combined energy hits 111 (moderate) but it’s completely unsurfable. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

The 5th of August is the biggest swell of the whole forecast, but it’s a total mess. We get a 6ft swell from the SW, but with a short period of just 6 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 221 to 265, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, leaving it lumpy and choppy. That size is getting too big for beginners, and the quality is just not there for anyone.

After that, we fade back into small, weak, and choppy conditions through to the 8th of August. The offshore winds on the 8th are clean, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft with almost no energy. It’s a clean flat spell.

The Standout (with a caveat): Honestly, the only window that’s even worth a look is the morning of the 2nd of August. The glassy conditions at Porth Ceriad are a rare treat, but the swell is tiny. If you’re desperate for a longboard glide and don’t mind a dribbly wave, that’s your shot. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, and the crowds are often there, so expect company. Just don’t expect any power.

This is a tough run, folks. These blank spells happen. We’ll just have to wait for the next proper groundswell to align with some clean wind.

Rusty.

Read more