Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, WNW swell with 144 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. 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 0.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what we've got coming up for Porthtowan. To be straight with you, it's a bit of a slow start, and we're looking at a long stretch of small, scrappy surf before anything really gets going.
The first week and a half are pretty bleak. The energy just isn't there. Most days the swell is tiny, well under 3 ft, with weak 'combined energy' readings (mostly under 125). The wind is mostly cross-off or cross-on, which keeps things clean or just a little choppy, but with so little swell, there's not much to work with. Friday morning the 10th of July might give you a micro-session with 3 ft swell from the west and a clean, light cross-off breeze, but it's very ordinary. The same goes for Saturday morning the 11th, with similar conditions. Honestly, it's a case of "if you're desperate and the board is already waxed." From the 12th through to the 23rd, it's a real dry spell. The wind gets stronger, gusting from the east or north, and the swell either disappears completely or turns into messy, short-period wind chop. You'll be looking at a lot of days with waves under 3 ft and energy levels that rarely break 100 (combined energy of all swells). It's a frustrating pattern.
Then, finally, we get a flicker of hope. Friday morning, the 24th of July. The forecast shows a pulse of 6 ft swell from the west-northwest. Now, the period is a short 6 seconds, so it's not going to be the most refined wave, but the combined energy jumps to 259 (moderate wave energy). The real kicker is the wind: it's glassy. Dead flat, clean, no wind. That's a major positive. For a break that's fairly exposed to the west-northwest direction, this is the standout window. The swell is over 5 ft, so it might be a little much for total beginners, but for the rest of us, it's the best chance we get. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.
So, in summary: the first two weeks are a write-off. Don't bother checking the cam until the 24th of July. That Friday morning glass-off is your only real shot. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | SSW 18 | W 10 | N 6 | SSW 16 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 120 | 113 | 144 | 127 | 94 | 55 | 92 | 60 | 74 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 46 | 37 | 32 | 48 | 31 | 31 | 25 | 25 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 12:41PM5.07m | 1:13AM5.19m | 1:52PM5.14m | 2:26AM5.28m | 3:02PM5.37m | 3:35AM5.50m | 4:06PM5.71m | 4:37AM5.81m | 5:04PM6.09m | 5:32AM6.09m | 5:56PM6.43m | 6:23AM6.30m | 6:46PM6.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:32AM1.43m | 7:01PM1.54m | 7:41AM1.44m | 8:15PM1.45m | 8:53AM1.32m | 9:29PM1.21m | 10:02AM1.07m | 10:35PM0.86m | 11:03AM0.75m | 11:34PM0.50m | 11:57AM0.46m | 00:27AM0.21m | 12:47PM0.24m | 1:17AM0.04m | |||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  | |
 | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:28 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:25 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | SE 8 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | W 9 |
| kJ | 120 | 113 | 144 | 127 | 94 | 55 | 92 | 44 | 74 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 46 | 36 | 32 | 78 | 24 | 15 | 23 | 18 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | S 18 | S 18 | N 4 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | N 5 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | W 12 | NNE 6 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | N 6 |
| kJ | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 42 | 28 | 60 | 39 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 37 | 37 | 12 | 48 | 21 | 31 | 16 | 14 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 12 | S 12 | NW 13 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SW 16 | SW 21 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | W 11 | SSW 18 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 31 | 7 | 25 | 25 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 3 | E 3 | N 4 | N 4 | E 5 | — | E 6 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 37 | — | 46 | 47 | 59 | 102 | 125 | 112 | 75 | 1055 | 130 | 27 | 36 | 40 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 22 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 26 | 392 | 381 | 387 | 21 | 26 | 0 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 20 |
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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