Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, WNW swell with 741 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Porthtowan this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Porthtowan in the next 16 days are 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Porthtowan's got cookin' over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's a tough watch for a while. We’re looking at a long, dry spell for decent waves. From now through to the morning of Friday, August 28th, it's pretty much a write-off. The swell is tiny or onshore and messy, and the forecasts just keep coming back as poor. That’s a solid week and a half of nothing worth paddling out for. It’s the kind of run that makes you want to check your gear is still in the car, just in case.
There is a glimmer of hope, though. It all hinges on Friday, August 28th. That morning, a pulse of new swell is forecast to roll in, and the stars look like they might align. We're looking at a solid 6 ft swell coming out of the WSW, and crucially, the wind is forecast to be light and blowing from the SSW. That's a clean, cross-off breeze for Porthtowan, which will make the waves much cleaner than anything we’ve seen. The wave energy is moderate to strong, at 541. The water is sitting at about 66°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year – a little bonus.
For a break that can be busy, and is fairly consistent when it’s on, a clean morning with a solid 6 ft groundswell from the west-northwest optimum direction is about as good as it gets in this forecast. It's the standout. The afternoon gets a little cross-onshore, so make sure you get out early.
After that, Saturday, August 29th shows a bigger swell of 6 ft from the W, with a very long period of 12 seconds, but it’s accompanied by a strong, onshore NW wind. That'll be a powerful, racy wave, but it’ll be blown out and tough to ride, definitely one for the experienced crew only.
So, to sum it up: sit tight for a good ten days. The only window worth your time, and the only one I’m calling a standout, is the morning of Friday, August 28th at Porthtowan. Be ready for that window, because it’s the only decent one we’ve got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the N by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 44 | 12 | 60 | 123 | 74 | 95 | 104 | 143 | 206 | 373 | 736 | 741 | 616 | 346 | 124 | 79 | 50 | 76 | 48 | 54 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:31PM6.49m | 8:51AM6.09m | 9:09PM6.08m | 9:28AM5.72m | 9:48PM5.59m | 10:08AM5.28m | 10:29PM5.07m | 10:52AM4.83m | 11:20PM4.59m | 11:51AM4.44m | 00:32AM4.24m | 1:16PM4.23m | 2:06AM4.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:31PM0.25m | 2:54AM0.38m | 3:07PM0.57m | 3:29AM0.78m | 3:44PM0.99m | 4:05AM1.23m | 4:23PM1.44m | 4:45AM1.69m | 5:10PM1.88m | 5:37AM2.10m | 6:16PM2.23m | 6:55AM2.37m | 7:50PM2.36m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | N 4 | W 8 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | N 5 | W 10 | N 6 |
| kJ | 16 | 26 | 8 | 43 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 29 | 45 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 33 | 19 | 124 | 79 | 50 | 20 | 48 | 39 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | N 4 | — | SW 18 | — | SW 16 | SSW 17 | — | — | NW 11 | — | — | SSW 14 | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | W 10 | SSW 15 | W 9 |
| kJ | 11 | 3 | — | 12 | — | 10 | 28 | — | — | 32 | — | — | 21 | — | 19 | 17 | 17 | 39 | 76 | 21 | 26 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 11 | SSW 15 | SW 12 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 3 | 13 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 6 | 54 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | WNW 7 | W 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | — | N 5 | — |
| kJ | 9 | 44 | 7 | 60 | 123 | 74 | 95 | 104 | 143 | 206 | 373 | 736 | 741 | 616 | 346 | 43 | 26 | 12 | — | 36 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 246 | 330 | 249 | 218 | 210 | 281 | 252 | 1143 | 286 | 556 | 210 | 605 | 159 | 218 | 23 | 218 | 218 | 22 | 265 | 270 | 244 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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