Porthtowan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me look at what we’ve got for Porthtowan over the next 16 days. Honestly, it’s been a tough stretch. The swell’s been tiny, the wind’s been messy, and the sea just hasn’t had any real energy. I have to be straight with you—there are no good surf options in this entire 16-day window. The forecast keeps showing “poor surf conditions” right through, with scores that don’t get off the ground. The only two days that even get a mention as “surfable” are Wednesday the 15th of July and Saturday the 25th of July, but even then, it’s ordinary at best.

Let’s break it down. Early on, Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th, we’re looking at piddly 3ft to 3ft swells from the NNE and N, with a short period of 6 seconds, and cross-off winds from the ENE at 19–12 mph. The combined energy is weak—around 120 (119-120). The water is warm at 65°F, and that’s 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s much warmer than normal. But the waves just aren’t there. The wind is fresh, but the surf is flat.

Wednesday the 15th is the first real nod. A light offshore from the ESE at 6 mph, with a 1ft swell from the west at 9 seconds. Energy is only 60—still weak. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. You might get a tiny, clean wave if you’re desperate, but it’s not worth the paddle.

From Thursday the 16th right through to Thursday the 23rd, it’s a gap of really poor, small surf. Swell heights hover between 0.7ft and 2ft, with periods all over the place—sometimes 4 seconds, sometimes 13 seconds—but combined energy is mostly under 100, often in the teens or twenties. The wind is either cross-off, onshore, or glassy on the 19th, but the swell is just too small to do anything. The 19th afternoon has a 0.3ft, 19-second period swell and glassy conditions—that’s a long-period groundswell, but at 0.3ft, it’s a lake, not a wave.

Then we get to Friday the 24th. The swell starts to show a bit more size: 5ft to 5ft from the west, with a period of 6-7 seconds, and combined energy jumps to 206-286. That’s moderate wave energy. But the wind is cross-onshore from the west at 9 mph, making it choppy and lumpy. The setup is still poor. For a break like Porthtowan, which is a beach break, this kind of onshore wind and short-period swell is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Saturday the 25th is the last glimmer. A 3ft morning swell from the west at 8 seconds, with a cross-off wind from the ESE at 9 mph. Energy is 146—moderate. The conditions are “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s clean, but the swell is small and the period is short. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but that’s not saying much.

After that, Sunday the 26th has near gale force winds from the ESE at 31 mph, with a 2ft swell. Monday the 27th brings a 6ft swell from the NW at 6 seconds, but with cross-on winds and energy at 296, it’s still poor. Tuesday the 28th has a 4ft swell from the WNW at 6 seconds, but fresh cross-off winds at 19 mph.

So, to sum it up: there’s nothing to get excited about. The only two days worth a mention are Wednesday the 15th and Saturday the 25th, and those are just barely surfable. If you’re a beginner, the small swell on the 25th might be okay, but it’s not great. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game. The water is much warmer than usual, but the waves are not. This is a frustrating run for Porthtowan, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty

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