Porthtowan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. I’ve been staring at the charts for Porthtowan and, to be honest, it’s a tough run. The next 16 days are looking pretty bleak for a proper paddle session. There’s a big gap of nothing worthwhile right from the start, and it’s not until Tuesday morning, the 21st of July, that we see a tiny flicker of something surfable, and even then, it’s a stretch.

We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions kicking off the forecast. Friday the 17th through to Monday the 20th is all flat, choppy, and messy. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 ft, and the wind is predominantly cross-onshore, often from the north or north-northeast, making it lumpy and unappealing. The combined wave energy is weak, ranging from 23 to 94, so there’s just no power in the water. You’d be better off staying home.

The first real chance comes on Tuesday morning, the 21st of July. The sky is clear, and we get a moment of magic with a glassy wind. The swell is small at 3 ft from the north, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy (74) is still weak, and the waves are described as "surfable but very ordinary conditions." It’s not a standout, but it’s the only time the wind is truly clean. The water temp is 64°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. From Tuesday afternoon all the way through to the end of the month, the wind swings back to cross-onshore, often from the north or north-northwest, and picks up speed. The swell height stays small, mostly between 1 ft and 4 ft, but the period is short, and the energy is low. The only exception is a small bump in combined energy on Thursday the 23rd (122) and Wednesday the 29th (135), but the wind is so strong – 28 mph from the west-northwest for the latter – that it’s just messy and blown out. The surf is too small and too weak for the conditions to be worthwhile for paddle surfing; honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The first week of August isn’t any kinder. The swell remains tiny, and the cross-onshore winds keep the surface choppy. There’s no real standout to point you toward. This is a blank run, and for a spot like Porthtowan, a poor run like this is more normal for the area when the wind doesn’t cooperate. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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