Portreath Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Portreath Beach over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this is one of those outlooks where you might want to keep the board in the truck and the wax in the wrapper for a good while.

For the first two weeks, we’re stuck in a real flat spell. The swell is tiny and the predominant wind is from the East, which is cross-offshore here, so the water will look clean but there’s just no push. From Sunday 12 July right through to Saturday 26 July, the swell height barely gets above 3 ft, and often it’s down around 1 ft to 2 ft. Swell periods are short, mostly 5 to 11 seconds, but the energy is weak. Wave energy numbers are mostly in the low double digits to mid-60s (e.g., 43, 51, 67), which tells you there’s nothing on offer. The forecast consistently calls it “poor surf conditions” with scores of 0 out of 10. That’s a long gap – nearly a fortnight – with no real surf.

The only time it gets interesting is right at the very end of the forecast window. On Monday 27 July, we finally see a pulse of energy. The morning kicks off with a 6 ft swell from the West, with a 9-second period. That bumps the wave energy right up to 562 – that’s a big jump and a sign of proper power. However, the wind is onshore, light from the WNW, and the wave comment still says “poor surf conditions.” So while there’s size, the quality might be rough. That 6 ft is a solid step up from the knee-high dribble we’ve had, but for most intermediates, it’s on the big and tricky side, especially if it's lumpy. The direction from the West is good for this break, as it’s fairly exposed to NW and W swells.

Because this swell arrives only on the 27th, it’s a long-range call, and you know how those can change. But for now, it’s the only highlight in the entire 16-day period, and it’s a week and a half away.

So, if you’re hanging for a surf, you’re basically looking at a blank run until the very end. With the break being fairly consistent generally, this kind of drought is a bit of a bummer, but it happens. Check back closer to the 27th to see if that pulse firms up.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the horizon.

Rusty.

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