Portreath Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. For the next 16 days around Cornwall, truth be told, it’s a rough stretch. The first week is a right-off for any decent surf. You’ve got a long wait, but there is a flicker of hope in the second week.

The forecast kicks off with a bang, but it’s the wrong kind. Thursday the 20th sees a solid 8ft to 8ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is on it, strong, and it’s just messy. The combined energy is big (808 to 1696), but that’s just raw power, not surfable power. Friday and Saturday are small and weak, with the wind all over the place. The water is about average for this time of year.

We slog through a flat spell from Sunday the 23rd through to Tuesday the 25th. Tiny waves, 1ft to 2ft, with some clean conditions but zero push. The energy is barely a whisper (16 to 75). There is a gap of several days here with nothing to get excited about.

Wednesday the 26th sees a jump back up to 6ft from the SW, but it’s still not clean enough for a proper session. Thursday the 27th morning is the first real glimmer. Portreath Beach gets a 4ft swell from the west with a 10-second period, and the wind is cross-off and light. It’s clean. The energy is moderate (290). This is your best bet for the first week. It’s still not a world-class day, but it’s the most surfable.

Then it gets ugly again. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are back to big, windy, onshore junk. Sunday the 30th morning looks promising at first glance – 7ft from the WSW with offshore wind and clean conditions (559 energy). But the wind is a moderate offshore, and the period is short at 8 seconds. It’ll be a bit lumpy and walled up. For a confident surfer, it’s okay, but not a standout.

The real standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Monday the 31st of August. A solid 10ft swell from the west with an 11-second period, producing a massive 2472 energy. That’s a lot of water moving. The wind is cross-shore, which creates a bit of chop, so it won’t be glassy. But for a beach break, this is big, powerful, and expert-only territory. At 10ft, it’s too big for beginners and intermediates. This is for the experienced crew only. Crowds are often at Portreath, so expect a few others with the same idea.

The first couple of days of September drop off again into the 4ft to 4ft range with poor onshore winds. The last few days of the forecast are small and mostly blown out. So, if you want a wave, your best windows are Thursday the 27th morning for a clean, fun size, and Monday the 31st for the big, raw power session. The 31st is the one with the most punch, but treat it with respect.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty

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