Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, WSW swell with 154 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with W 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Porthtowan in the next 16 days are 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s shaping up for Porthtowan over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The forecast is pretty grim for the most part, with a lot of small, lumpy, and choppy conditions on the cards. There are a couple of windows where it cleans up, but they’re nothing to write home about. We’re looking at a long gap of poor surf before we get to anything worth mentioning.
The water at Porthtowan is sitting at 66°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – not a game-changer, but a nice little bonus if you do get in.
The first real chance of anything rideable kicks off on Monday, August 3rd. The morning session is the pick of a very average bunch. We’ve got a wee 3ft swell rolling in from the WSW, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 113, so there’s a bit of push behind it. The magic here is the wind: glassy, dead calm. That’s a major positive for Porthtowan, which is a fairly exposed beach break. It’ll be clean, but the waves are very ordinary. The afternoon stays cross-shore, so the morning is your window.
The only other flicker of life comes on Sunday, August 9th. The morning has a 3ft WSW swell with a 9-second period and a light offshore from the SSE. The combined energy is moderate (101). It’s clean, but again, it’s just surfable, not cracking. The afternoon gets glassy with a 2ft swell, but it’s weak.
Everything else is a write-off. From Friday, July 31st right through to the end of the second week, it’s mostly small, onshore, and choppy. There are long gaps of several days with no recommendations at all. The winds are predominantly cross-on or onshore from the NW, NNW, and W, keeping the surf messy. On August 5th and 15th, we get fresh breezes up to 18-22 mph, which makes it lumpy and unappealing for a paddle. If you’re into kite surfing, those stronger cross-onshore days might be more interesting than the tiny, gutless surf we’re seeing.
So, if you’re dead set on a paddle, the standout is the glassy morning of Monday, August 3rd. The cleanest conditions of the whole forecast. The second option is the offshore morning of Sunday, August 9th. Both are small and ordinary, but they’re the only clean windows we’ve got. Don’t expect much, and you won’t be disappointed.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the N by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | NW 5 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 32 | 27 | 33 | 41 | 39 | 49 | 35 | 19 | 106 | 113 | 106 | 75 | 146 | 104 | 44 | 51 | 60 | 40 | 26 | 24 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:22PM6.17m | 7:38AM5.94m | 7:55PM6.23m | 8:12AM5.97m | 8:29PM6.20m | 8:47AM5.91m | 9:05PM6.07m | 9:25AM5.77m | 9:45PM5.85m | 10:08AM5.55m | 10:32PM5.55m | 11:00AM5.27m | 11:30PM5.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:22PM0.63m | 1:44AM0.57m | 1:55PM0.57m | 2:17AM0.54m | 2:27PM0.60m | 2:50AM0.60m | 3:02PM0.71m | 3:25AM0.75m | 3:39PM0.89m | 4:05AM0.97m | 4:23PM1.14m | 4:52AM1.25m | 5:17PM1.42m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | W 10 | WNW 5 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 9 | SW 7 | SW 7 | W 7 | W 10 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 6 |
| kJ | 32 | 11 | 33 | 15 | 39 | 49 | 35 | 17 | 106 | 113 | 106 | 75 | 7 | 104 | 44 | 4 | 8 | 40 | 26 | 24 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | W 12 | WNW 7 | W 9 | — | — | W 6 | W 10 | E 4 | — | — | — | SW 15 | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | SW 13 | W 11 | N 4 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 12 | 3 | 4 | 41 | — | — | 3 | 19 | 3 | — | — | — | 8 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 9 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | E 4 | S 15 | — | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | — | SW 13 | W 10 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | 8 | 8 | 7 | — | 7 | 18 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NW 5 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 4 | N 3 | E 2 | E 4 | — | — | — | SW 3 | WSW 7 | — | — | SW 6 | SW 6 | NNW 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | 27 | 10 | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | 1 | 146 | — | — | 51 | 60 | 4 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 258 | 925 | 218 | 23 | 40 | 22 | 385 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 250 | 71 | 23 | 258 | 40 | 527 |
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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