Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, WNW swell with 547 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Porthtowan this week:
The surf forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Porthtowan in the next 16 days are 1.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 1AM. 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 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, your local surf reporter Rusty here, with the long-range look for Porthtowan.
Let’s be honest—right now it’s a tough stretch. From the start through the end of July and into the first few days of August, we’re looking at about ten days of poor conditions. The swell is small and the wind is junk. It’s not totally flat, but it’s not worth getting wet for.
The first real chance of something decent pops up on Monday the 3rd of August. That morning, we get a fresh offshore breeze from the southeast and the swell builds to 1.5m from the WSW. It’s still a bit touch-and-go, but by the afternoon it comes together. The swell hits 1.7m from the WSW with a moderate offshore wind from the southeast. The combined energy of all swells directed here is strong at 416, so there’s some punch behind it. That Monday afternoon is the standout of the whole forecast. Porthtowan is the spot. The water temperature is running a touch warmer than normal at 18°, so that’s a bonus.
After that, Tuesday the 4th still has size—1.6m from the west—but the wind turns cross-offshore and it slips back into marginal territory. Wednesday the 5th has 1.5m from the WNW, but the wind is getting stronger and the period is dropping, so it’s not going to hold together. The rest of the second week is mostly messy with onshore winds and lumpy conditions. That 1.0m swell on Saturday the 8th of August has a long 10-second period, but with strong cross-onshore winds, it’ll be choppy and hard to surf.
Honestly, if you’re waiting for a window, that Monday afternoon on the 3rd of August at Porthtowan is your best bet. The rest of the forecast is pretty bleak.
Keep an eye on it. Things can always change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Fri night, fresh winds from the NW by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 4 | W 8 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | W 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 12 | 6 | 23 | 48 | 206 | 417 | 428 | 547 | 89 | 68 | 115 | 86 | 84 | 59 | 58 | 55 | 70 | 43 | 29 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:39AM4.47m | 3:12PM4.61m | 3:43AM4.63m | 4:10PM4.85m | 4:35AM4.88m | 4:57PM5.16m | 5:18AM5.17m | 5:37PM5.49m | 5:56AM5.44m | 6:14PM5.78m | 6:32AM5.67m | 6:48PM6.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:30PM2.11m | 9:03AM2.07m | 9:40PM1.97m | 10:06AM1.88m | 10:37PM1.71m | 10:56AM1.59m | 11:22PM1.41m | 11:37AM1.29m | 00:02AM1.11m | 12:14PM1.00m | 00:37AM0.86m | 12:49PM0.78m | 1:12AM0.67m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — |
 | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 310 | 89 | 52 | 115 | 86 | 84 | 59 | 58 | 55 | 70 | 43 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | W 10 | W 8 | S 18 | — | S 16 | S 12 | S 12 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | N 4 | — | S 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 6 | — | S 13 | W 9 |
| kJ | 7 | 2 | 1 | 6 | — | 5 | 3 | 3 | 86 | 68 | 2 | — | 4 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | N 5 | N 5 | S 14 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | S 13 | S 13 | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NNW 3 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | 12 | 4 | 23 | 48 | 206 | 417 | 428 | 547 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 755 | 415 | 750 | 392 | 556 | 742 | 218 | 104 | 19 | 193 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 218 | 22 | 40 | 236 | 387 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Porthtowan surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Porthtowan Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Porthtowan provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Porthtowan can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Porthtowan 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 (Porthtowan) 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 Porthtowan 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.
Porthtowan is 8 km (5 miles) from Camborne. If you plan a holiday in North Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in Camborne. Camborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
Nearest