Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period, W swell with 319 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 4PM (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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period. 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 1.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here with the imperial take. Let’s get into it.
The opening act is the only one worth your time. On Wednesday the 12th of August, Porthtowan has a clean morning with 3ft waves from the west, a 10-second period, and a nice offshore ESE breeze. Water temps are 66°F, a touch warmer than average. The combined swell energy is moderate at 127. It’s surfable, but it’s not going to blow your mind. The afternoon stays clean with a 3ft west swell and a cross-off wind, but again, just ordinary.
From Thursday the 13th of August all the way through to Monday the 24th, it’s a grim stretch. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore almost every single day, turning even the 5ft swell on the 18th into a complete mess. The waves are choppy, lumpy, and just plain unfriendly. There’s a consistent lack of quality, and it’s a real drought of good surf for well over a week.
Then, right at the tail end on Thursday the 27th of August, we see a 3ft west-northwest swell with a very long 12-second period (groundswell). The combined energy jumps to a strong 430. But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, so it’s lumpy and poor. This one’s more for the kite crowd than the surfer.
The standout, if you can call it that, is the Wednesday the 12th. The waves are clean and small, good for beginners, but expect the crowds as they’re often here. For everything else, I’d honestly find something else to do. It’s a tough forecast, but it won’t last forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sat afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 125 | 139 | 180 | 319 | 284 | 181 | 159 | 220 | 132 | 124 | 95 | 100 | 58 | 51 | 62 | 11 | 8 | 21 | 148 | 247 | 131 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 5:47PM6.47m | 6:11AM6.33m | 6:31PM6.76m | 6:54AM6.50m | 7:13PM6.86m | 7:34AM6.51m | 7:53PM6.76m | 8:13AM6.37m | 8:31PM6.49m | 8:51AM6.09m | 9:09PM6.08m | 9:28AM5.72m | 9:48PM5.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:49AM0.44m | 00:17AM0.14m | 12:34PM0.15m | 1:00AM-0.06m | 1:15PM0.01m | 1:40AM-0.08m | 1:54PM0.05m | 2:18AM0.07m | 2:31PM0.25m | 2:54AM0.38m | 3:07PM0.57m | 3:29AM0.78m | 3:44PM0.99m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 23 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | S 13 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | N 5 | N 4 | W 8 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 7 |
| kJ | 125 | 139 | 180 | 319 | 284 | 181 | 159 | 3 | 132 | 124 | 95 | 55 | 39 | 34 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 21 | 11 | 11 | 131 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 4 | E 5 | S 13 | S 11 | SW 13 | — | — | SW 12 | S 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 5 | W 7 | — | E 5 | — | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 1 | 35 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | — | — | 6 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 4 | — | 2 | — | 29 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | S 11 | S 13 | — | S 10 | — | — | S 20 | S 19 | — | S 18 | W 7 | W 9 | SW 16 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | 7 | 7 | — | 6 | 8 | 6 | 10 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | SE 3 | — | — | NW 3 | W 3 | — | W 9 | NNW 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | — | WNW 4 | W 3 | W 6 | W 7 | NNW 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 220 | 5 | 50 | 94 | 100 | 58 | 51 | 62 | — | 8 | 3 | 148 | 247 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 218 | 17 | 157 | 218 | 22 | 257 | 282 | 281 | 282 | 402 | 262 | 228 | 403 | 466 | 744 | 766 | 83 |
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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