Surf Forecasts:
Porthtowan surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, W swell with 1,765 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Porthtowan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Morning crew, it’s Rusty here. Let’s cut through it. For the next two weeks at Porthtowan, it’s a long stretch of wind-chopped, onshore slop before one proper window shows up that’s worth getting excited about.
The first week is pretty much a bust. Thursday morning the 27th, there’s a small, weak SSW swell – about 0.8m (3 ft) with a 6-second period, energy only at 60. There’s a light cross-off breeze so it’s clean, but it’s tiny. The water’s running at 64°F, which is about 2°F warmer than normal for this time of year – a bit notable but nothing crazy. After that, it just falls apart. From Thursday afternoon through the weekend and into next week, the wind swings onshore and builds from 20 up to 28 mph by Saturday. The swell gets bigger – up to 3.0m (10 ft) by Saturday afternoon – and the energy climbs into the thousands, hitting 1629. But it’s all messy, lumpy, cross-onshore junk. The whole stretch from Thursday afternoon through to the 4th is just poor, blown-out, with a lot of chop. If you’re a beginner or intermediate, this is a week to find something else to do.
Now, the real standout. After that long gap of nothing, the window appears on the 5th of September – that’s a Saturday morning, a week and a half out. The swell is a solid 2.3m (8 ft) with an 11-second period, proper groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 1890, which is strong, and the wind is a light easterly at 3 mph, almost glassy. That’s the day. It’s a bit on the bigger side – that 2.3m is pushing into the serious zone, so only for the experienced crew. The long period means longer gaps between sets and more power, but it’s going to be clean and lined up.
After that Saturday, it’s back to ordinary – southwest winds, cross-chop, and the swell fades back down. By the 10th and 11th, the swell is down to under a metre (3 ft) and the energy is under 100 – just dead, flat and messy. So, honestly, for the next 16 days, there’s one day to plan around: the morning of the 5th. That’s your best shot. The rest is windblown or flat. But keep hope – when it’s been this bad for this long, the tide tends to turn. Just keep watching.
Stay salty,
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sat morning, light winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun morning, light winds from the SW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | SW 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 40 | 53 | 80 | 173 | 401 | 203 | 573 | 1629 | 1157 | 459 | 620 | 1765 | 1478 | 840 | 349 | 258 | 251 | 190 | 124 | 72 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:50PM5.96m | 6:07AM5.90m | 6:22PM6.27m | 6:39AM6.16m | 6:54PM6.48m | 7:11AM6.32m | 7:27PM6.57m | 7:44AM6.37m | 8:01PM6.51m | 8:19AM6.28m | 8:38PM6.31m | 8:58AM6.06m | 9:19PM5.97m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:50AM0.85m | 00:12AM0.64m | 12:23PM0.55m | 00:44AM0.38m | 12:55PM0.34m | 1:15AM0.22m | 1:27PM0.24m | 1:47AM0.20m | 1:59PM0.27m | 2:20AM0.30m | 2:34PM0.42m | 2:55AM0.54m | 3:12PM0.69m | 3:35AM0.89m | |||||||
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 19 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 8 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | N 5 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 40 | 47 | 41 | 16 | — | 6 | — | — | 1157 | 459 | 1 | — | — | 840 | 349 | 258 | 12 | 10 | 124 | 72 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SE 5 | SW 12 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | SW 18 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 20 | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 37 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | — | — | — | SW 10 | SW 10 | N 6 |
| kJ | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | SW 6 | SW 7 | W 9 | — | SSW 7 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | — | WSW 4 |
| kJ | — | 53 | 80 | 173 | 401 | 203 | 573 | 1629 | — | 79 | 620 | 1765 | 1478 | — | — | — | 251 | 190 | — | — | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 17 | 17 | 210 | 280 | 208 | 246 | 288 | 57 | 208 | 394 | 154 | 159 | 227 | 5 | 218 | 754 | 210 | 16 | 245 | 549 |
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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