
Surf Forecasts:
Portreath Beach surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period, W swell with 338 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Portreath Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Portreath Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Portreath Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Portreath Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this out there. It’s a bit of a slow burner for the next stretch, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart going.
Overall, the first week is mostly a write-off. Tiny, weak swell with a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind is the story. We’re looking at ankle-biters and chop for most of the first five days. You’ll see some clean conditions, but there just isn’t any push. The energy in the water is weak, mostly in the 20s and 40s, which is basically nothing.
The first real sign of life shows up on Wednesday, August 12th. The swell bumps up a bit to around 3 ft – 3 ft from the W, and the energy kicks into moderate territory (132, then 142). The morning wind is a fresh offshore from the SE, which will leave it glassy but a bit too blown out. The afternoon cleans up to a light cross-off and it’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. Not a standout, just the first paddle back.
Thursday the 13th looks like a tease. The swell drops in a bit more size (4 ft – 4 ft) and the period stretches to 10-11 seconds, and the energy jumps to 319. But the wind swings onshore from the NW and the window is gone. Cruel.
After that, we drift back into average conditions with a messy mix of NW and N winds and a bumpy ocean. The swell stays small, maybe 2 ft – 4 ft, and the energy stays in the weak to moderate range. This stretch runs from the 14th through the 18th. Plenty of chop, not much else.
Now, here’s where we get to the one true standout of this whole outlook. It’s a long way out, so keep that in mind, but Tuesday, August 19th through Wednesday, August 20th is the window. On the 19th, we see a jump in swell to 7 ft, then 8 ft, with the period still short (7-8s) and onshore winds from the NW/WNW. Not clean, but the energy is pouring in, hitting 456 and then 574. The 20th pushes it further. Morning sees 8 ft of WNW swell with a period of 9 seconds and a fresh cross-onshore breeze. That’s strong energy, hitting 919. The afternoon backs off a touch to 6 ft but the period stretches to 10 seconds, keeping the energy at 725.
Look, with that size and that wind, Portreath Beach isn't going to be a pretty sight. It’s going to be lumpy and cross-onshore. This isn’t a clean surf day for us paddle surfers. With that much west in the wind and a beach setup, it looks far more interesting for the kite crowd. If you’re one of them, get on it. For the rest of us, we’re going to have to wait.
After that, the swell drops right back off into the sub-3 ft range with weak energy through the final few days of the window. Nothing to get excited about.
Water temp is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so the boardshorts are fine.
So, there you have it. A lot of flat and messy, one big brute of a swell that’ll be a kiter’s dream and a surfer’s frustration. The long-range 19th and 20th are the best on offer, but they’re promising, not perfect. Keep the hopes up, this stretch won’t last forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 17°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 31 | 24 | 22 | 33 | 20 | 11 | 116 | 125 | 138 | 169 | 319 | 237 | 151 | 133 | 190 | 111 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:26PM4.93m | 2:09AM4.95m | 2:49PM5.12m | 3:28AM5.21m | 4:00PM5.54m | 4:32AM5.62m | 4:57PM6.03m | 5:25AM6.02m | 5:47PM6.47m | 6:11AM6.33m | 6:31PM6.76m | 6:54AM6.50m | 7:13PM6.86m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:59PM1.68m | 8:42AM1.63m | 9:25PM1.41m | 9:58AM1.29m | 10:34PM0.96m | 10:59AM0.85m | 11:30PM0.50m | 11:49AM0.44m | 00:17AM0.14m | 12:34PM0.15m | 1:00AM-0.06m | 1:15PM0.01m | 1:40AM-0.08m | ||||||||
5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 25 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
17 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 31 | 9 | 22 | 33 | 20 | 11 | 116 | 125 | 138 | 169 | 319 | 237 | 151 | 133 | 190 | 111 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | WSW 6 | SSE 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | SW 7 | N 4 | W 9 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 15 | W 12 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 76 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SW 11 | WSW 7 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 6 | SW 7 | W 11 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 12 | SW 12 | — | E 6 | — | — | S 11 | S 13 | — | — |
1 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | — | 15 | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | SE 4 | — | — | — | NW 2 | — | N 3 | N 4 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — | — | WNW 3 | W 5 | WNW 6 | N 4 | N 4 |
1 | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 22 | 12 | — | — | 1 | 62 | 88 | 6 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 234 | 190 | 19 | 218 | 402 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 227 | 402 | 8 | 32 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 36 | 152 | 161 | 281 | 19 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Portreath Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Portreath Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Portreath Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Portreath Beach 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 (Portreath Beach) 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 Portreath Beach 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.
Portreath Beach is 5 km (3 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.











