Porthtowan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range look for Porthtowan. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, and you’ll need to pick your moments carefully.

We’re kicking off Monday the 24th of August with barely a ripple. The swell is tiny, only about 1 foot from the SW, and while the wind is cross-off, there’s just no energy. The water’s sitting about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about. Tuesday the 25th sees a slight bump to about 2 feet from the WNW, but the real story is the wind. Tuesday afternoon we get a clean offshore wind from the SE, which is a big positive. The wave height is still small at about 2 feet, but the combined energy is a modest 115, and conditions are surfable.

Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th are a real tease. The swell picks up to about 5 feet on Thursday morning from the SW, with a solid 11-second period, giving moderate energy of 576, but the wind is a cross-off, which is okay but not perfect. By Thursday afternoon, we’re getting about 8 feet from the SW, but it’s a messy cross-shore wind, creating a bit of chop. The swell energy is strong at 1184, but the quality is marginal.

Friday the 28th through the 30th of August is a write-off. The wind is shifty, onshore, and gusty, making for poor and choppy conditions. The swell is all over the place, short period, and the energy is weak to moderate. You’d be better off doing something else.

Then we hit a gap. From the 31st of August through to the 5th of September, it’s pretty grim. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, with fresh to strong breezes. The swell is there – 7 feet to 10 feet from the W and WNW – but it’s blown out. The energy is strong, but the quality is poor. This is kite-surfing wind, not for a clean paddle.

Now, the standout – and you’ll have to wait for it – is Sunday the 6th of September. We’ve got a long-period groundswell from the W, with a 19-second period in the morning, dropping to 17 seconds in the afternoon. The swell is a solid 6 feet to 7 feet, and the combined energy is massive, nearly 2800. That’s real power. The wind is offshore from the NNW, which is perfect for clean waves. The catch? This is a long-period swell, and at a beach break like Porthtowan, it can break a bit fat and close out. Still, the potential for a few clean, lined-up sets is very high. It’s a promising long-range call, but less certain.

Monday the 7th of September keeps the quality going. A 6-foot swell from the W, 14-second period, and a light cross-onshore breeze. The energy is strong at 1516, and the conditions are marginal but much better than the week before. Tuesday the 8th of September gets big again – 12 feet from the W with a 12-second period and a huge energy of 4672 – but the wind is onshore, so it’s blown out and only for the experts.

So, to sum it up: the second week of September is where the real potential lies. If you can wait, the 6th and 7th are your best bets, with the 6th being the true standout. The rest of the window is a fight with the wind. Keep an eye on that forecast, because it could shape up nicely.

Rusty.

Read more