Portreath Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got a good hard look at what’s coming up for Portreath Beach. Let’s be honest from the start – this is a tough stretch. The whole 16-day window is a real mixed bag, and for long stretches, the surf is just plain poor. The wind is the main villain, howling onshore or cross-shore for days on end, making a mess of things. The water’s sitting at 63.7°F, which is about 1.4°F warmer than the usual for this time of year, so it’s a touch on the warm side, but nothing crazy.

We kick off on Tuesday the 25th of August, and it’s not great. The swell is tiny, only 1.6ft to 2.0ft from the WNW, with a short period of 10 seconds. The wind is a cross-off from the E and ESE, which is alright, but the wave energy is weak (66). It’s called “poor surf conditions” and I wouldn’t paddle out for it. That theme carries right through Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th. Swell stays under 3.3ft, periods short, and the wind is all over the place. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday afternoon with a light offshore from the SE, but the swell is only 1.6ft with a 8-second period, so it’s barely a ripple. The energy is a paltry 32. You’re not missing anything.

Friday the 28th of August sees a jump in size – we’re up to 5.9ft to 6.2ft from the west, but the period is a weak 7 seconds. That’s short-period wind swell, and the wind is a cross-shore and cross-onshore mess. The wave energy is moderate (343 to 368), but the wave comment is “poor surf conditions” and the description says “moderate cross-shore with a cross-chop” and “moderate cross-onshore and choppy.” It’s lumpy and ugly. The swell gets bigger over the weekend, hitting 9.8ft on Saturday the 29th, but the wind is a strong cross-on from the WSW at 15-22 mph. The energy is strong (989 to 1183), but it’s a freight train of messy, blown-out waves. The wave comment is still “poor surf conditions.” Saturday afternoon is described as “fresh cross-onshore and lumpy.” This is kite-surfing territory, not clean surf.

Sunday the 30th of August drops back a bit, with 5.2ft to 5.6ft WSW swell, but the wind is still a problem. Morning is a cross-off from the SSW at 19 mph, but there’s a risk of thunderstorms. The afternoon is back to fresh cross-onshore. The pattern repeats: the swell is there, but the wind and chop ruin it. Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September stay in the 6.2ft to 8.2ft range, with strong cross-onshore and cross-shore winds. The wave energy is high (568 to 1024), but the quality is poor. The wind is a strong breeze or fresh breeze, making it a battle.

The first week of September is a write-off. From Wednesday the 2nd through to Friday the 4th, it’s all cross-onshore, lumpy, and messy. The swell is between 5.6ft and 8.2ft, but the wind is relentless. On Thursday the 3rd, we see a near gale from the SW (34 mph), with a crossing wave description. That’s not surfable.

Now, there is a glimmer, but it’s a long way off, and it’s not a sure thing. On Saturday the 5th of September, we get a big 9.8ft swell from the west with a 10-second period, and the wind is a clean onshore from the WNW and NW at 15-19 mph. The wave energy is huge (1877), and the water is clear. The wave comment is still “poor surf conditions,” but this is the first time the wind is straight onshore with that much size. It’s a wild, powerful wave, but it’s not clean. The real standout is Sunday the 6th of September. The morning shows a 9.8ft swell from the west, 10-second period, with a moderate cross-shore from the SW. The wave energy is very strong (1669). The afternoon is even more interesting: a 9

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