Porthtowan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for Porthtowan over the next couple of weeks. I'll be honest with you, it's a bit of a mixed bag, and we've got a long dry spell to get through before we see any real action.

Looking at the whole picture, the next week and a half is pretty grim. We're looking at a solid gap from now until the end of the first week of September with no surf worth paddling out for. The winds are just not playing ball, and even when there's a bit of size, the conditions are messy. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate early on, barely hitting triple digits, but it does build. Around the 29th of August, we see that energy jump to 444, and by the 30th it's at 677 – but it's all junk. The surf quality is poor, driven by strong cross-onshore winds that are going to chop everything up. This is one of those times where the beach setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, especially when we get winds whipping in at 18 to 25 mph from the west and southwest.

The stand-out window, the one you've been waiting for, looks to be much further out. Mark your calendars for the 9th of September, a Wednesday morning. That's where the magic is.

Alright, let's walk through it day by day.

Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th of August are a write-off. We've got small 2ft to 2ft WNW swells, but the wind is cross-off, keeping things clean but tiny. Energy is a weak 93-110.

Thursday the 27th, the swell tries to build to 4ft from the SSW in the afternoon, but we've got a moderate cross-off breeze ruining the surface. The 28th and 29th get bigger, hitting 5ft and then 7ft to 8ft, but the wind swings cross-onshore and gets fresh, creating lumpy, choppy conditions. The combined energy jumps to 222 on Friday and then to a hefty 444 and 1059 over that weekend, but it's just messy.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st see more size – 10ft on Monday morning with a WNW onshore wind at 22 mph. We're hitting expert territory in size, with energy at a very strong 1403, but the wind is onshore, so the quality is poor. That carries into the start of September, with a big 10ft swell from the WSW on Tuesday the 1st (energy 1450) but with fresh cross-shore winds.

We finally get a break in the wind pattern on Sunday the 6th of September. The morning looks clean with a 4ft WNW swell and a light cross-off breeze from the south. The combined energy is a moderate 423. The guidance says it's a fair wave, and it gets a score, but it's still not the best of the best.

Now, the real highlight is on Wednesday the 9th of September. This is the one. We've got a beautiful 10ft swell from the west, with a 9-second period. The combined swell energy is a massive 2458 – that's strong, energetic surf. But the key here is the wind: it's glassy. A slight air from the south, meaning no wind at all. For a break like Porthtowan, which is fairly exposed to the west-northwest, this is about as good as it gets for an experienced surfer. This size – over 8ft – is strictly for experts. Beginners, stay on the sand and watch the show. This is excellent surf conditions, and it’s the clear standout of this whole 16-day forecast. The water temp is unremarkable, about average for this time of year.

So, to sum it up: the next nine days are a bust. Don't bother. Keep an eye on the 9th of September. That Wednesday morning has the potential to be an absolute ripper, but it's a long way out, so treat it as a promising date to keep in your diary.

Rusty out.

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