Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, W swell with 919 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. 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 2.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles, because that’s how we measure stoke.
This 16-day run for Porthtowan has some grunt, but the quality is up and down. You’re gonna have to pick your moments.
Monday the 31st of August starts with a solid 10ft swell from the W, but a 19 mph NW wind is hammering it onshore. The water is 64°, a touch warmer than normal for the season. The wave energy is strong at 1581, but that wind means it’s blown-out mush. Avoid it. The next few days are smaller and choppy.
Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is a sleeper. The swell is tiny, only 3ft, but a fresh offshore wind from the SSW at 19 mph cleans the surface perfectly. Wave energy is weak (136), so grab a longboard. It’s clean, tiny, and fun for a beginner.
Your first real standout is Saturday the 5th of September morning. The swell is 4ft from the WNW, but the period jumps to 12 seconds – that’s real groundswell. The wind drops to just 3 mph from the WNW, creating a glassy cross-onshore with only small wind ripples. The energy is moderate (488), and that long period might make it a bit walled-up at a beach break, but it’s the cleanest window of the first week.
The second week gets rowdy. From the 7th through the 10th of September, the swell pumps to 8ft and even 10ft, but onshore and cross-onshore winds make it a lumpy, choppy mess. The big energy days on the 8th afternoon (1494) and the 14th afternoon (1542) are for experts only. For the rest of us, it’s kite-surfing conditions.
Tuesday the 15th of September is the long-range pick. A 7ft swell from the W with an 11-second period delivers solid energy (1148), and a clean cross-offshore wind from the SSW at 12 mph. That’s a powerful, clean combo. Keep an eye on this one as we get closer.
Pick your battles. Saturday the 5th is your clean, smaller day. Tuesday the 15th is your power day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Thu night, calm by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 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) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1581 | 1019 | 464 | 189 | 146 | 103 | 111 | 303 | 276 | 292 | 308 | 422 | 347 | 441 | 511 | 470 | 343 | 158 | 60 | 38 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:01PM6.51m | 8:19AM6.28m | 8:38PM6.31m | 8:58AM6.06m | 9:19PM5.97m | 9:41AM5.71m | 10:06PM5.53m | 10:33AM5.29m | 11:07PM5.05m | 11:43AM4.91m | 00:30AM4.71m | 1:16PM4.78m | 2:07AM4.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:59PM0.27m | 2:20AM0.30m | 2:34PM0.42m | 2:55AM0.54m | 3:12PM0.69m | 3:35AM0.89m | 3:57PM1.06m | 4:24AM1.31m | 4:55PM1.48m | 5:30AM1.73m | 6:18PM1.81m | 7:05AM1.94m | 8:02PM1.80m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:54 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 17 | W 8 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | W 8 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 1581 | 1019 | 464 | 189 | 12 | 103 | 25 | 37 | 21 | 36 | 60 | 47 | 347 | 441 | 511 | 470 | 343 | 158 | 60 | 38 | 21 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 5 | N 5 | — | SW 16 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | S 9 | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 8 | 2 | — | 10 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 33 | 33 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 18 | SW 18 | — | SW 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | 12 | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 6 | — | — | W 9 | — | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | — | 40 | — | — | 146 | — | 111 | 303 | 276 | 292 | 308 | 422 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 17 | 37 | 55 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 218 | 165 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 5 | 499 | 210 | 17 | 401 | 210 | 218 | 17 | 218 | 58 | 11 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 208 | 5 |
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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