Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, W swell with 376 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Porthtowan this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Porthtowan in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) 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 0.4m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Porthtowan. Got to be straight with you – this is a grim stretch. The entire 16-day window is a write-off. There's no good surf on offer, not a single session that gets the nod. We’re looking at a solid two weeks plus of poor conditions, so don't hold your breath.
The pattern is a mess. We start on Tuesday the 4th of August with a weak 4ft swell from the SW, but it’s got a short period of 7 seconds and a cross-shore breeze of 15 to 18 mph. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 65°, about 3° above average for the time of year, but that’s the only silver lining. The combined energy is a weak 194, and it’s just poor surf conditions.
Wednesday the 5th sees a bump in size to 7ft from the W, but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 18 mph, and the period is still a short 7 seconds. The energy jumps to 423 (moderate), but it’s blown out and lumpy. Same story Thursday and Friday as the swell fades away to nothing. The weekend of the 7th and 8th is tiny, with 1.0ft waves and glassy conditions on the Saturday morning, but it’s essentially flat. Not worth paddling out for.
The following week is no better. Monday the 10th is small and choppy. Tuesday the 11th actually has offshore winds (ESE 15-18 mph) but the swell is practically non-existent at 0.7ft to 1.0ft. Wednesday the 12th afternoon is the only time the chart mentions "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" with a 3ft swell from the WSW and a clean offshore wind (score of 1 out of 10). But that’s not a recommendation, just a slight improvement in a sea of bad. The combined energy is only 115.
From there, it’s back to onshore winds and lumpy, choppy junk. Another pulse of 4ft to 5ft from the WSW around the 13th and 14th, but it’s all cross-on or onshore with fresh winds. The second week is a blur of poor conditions, with the only notable event being a 4ft swell on Wednesday the 19th of August that builds a combined energy of 439, but it’s under a fresh onshore wind. It’s a no-go.
For a beach setup like Porthtowan, with this much onshore wind and short-period swell, it’s more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The forecasts can change, but right now, this is a blank run. Nothing to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 7 | SW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 7 | NW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 152 | 149 | 92 | 376 | 232 | 188 | 92 | 40 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 42 | 43 | 69 | 24 | 22 | 13 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:45PM5.85m | 10:08AM5.55m | 10:32PM5.55m | 11:00AM5.27m | 11:30PM5.22m | 12:05PM5.02m | 00:44AM4.96m | 1:26PM4.93m | 2:09AM4.95m | 2:49PM5.12m | 3:28AM5.21m | 4:00PM5.54m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 3:39PM0.89m | 4:05AM0.97m | 4:23PM1.14m | 4:52AM1.25m | 5:17PM1.42m | 5:53AM1.54m | 6:29PM1.65m | 7:13AM1.71m | 7:59PM1.68m | 8:42AM1.63m | 9:25PM1.41m | 9:58AM1.29m | 10:34PM0.96m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 15 | SSW 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 11 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | W 5 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 8 | 78 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 92 | 40 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 42 | 43 | 14 | 23 | 22 | 13 | 21 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | S 15 | SW 14 | — | — | SW 13 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | W 9 | WSW 7 | WNW 9 | SW 12 | SW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | 8 | 4 | 8 | — | — | 7 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | — | W 12 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 5 | SW 12 | SW 12 | NW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 8 | S 15 | SW 12 | SW 7 | N 4 | — |
| kJ | 8 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 18 | 17 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | SW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 5 | NW 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 152 | 149 | 92 | 376 | 232 | 188 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 69 | 24 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 210 | 218 | 218 | 210 | 257 | 159 | 228 | 371 | 401 | 392 | 236 | 262 | 218 | 15 | 22 | 218 | 23 | 385 | 219 | 236 |
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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