Portreath Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking pretty grim for a long stretch. We’ve got a proper flat spell on the horizon. The first real chance of a wave isn't until the morning of Friday the 10th of July, and even then, it’s a tough sell.

That first window, Friday the 10th of July morning, has little 3-foot swells rolling in from the west with a 9-second period. The combined energy is weak (135), so it’s not going to be packing much punch. Wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-off from the east, which is clean enough, but the call is "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s small and average. The water is sitting at 62°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than usual for this time of year, nothing too wild.

After that brief flicker, we hit a proper dead zone. From Saturday the 11th of July all the way through to the morning of Tuesday the 21st of July, there is nothing but poor surf conditions. The swell drops off to nothing, winds get stronger, and the whole thing just fizzles out. It’s a solid ten-day stretch of flatness and choppy junk. Not a single standout in that lot.

The next time we see something with a bit of life is on the morning of Wednesday the 22nd of July. We get a 6-foot west swell, period a short 7 seconds, but the energy is now moderate (334). The wind is offshore from the ESE at 16 mph, which is a major positive and will keep the surface clean. The report calls it "marginal" due to tide, but for a spot that’s been dead for over a week, this is the best we’ve got. It’s a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but at least it’s rideable. The afternoon sees a similar 6-foot swell but the wind picks up to a fresh 19 mph cross-off, making it a bit messy.

The 23rd of July morning is another one to keep an eye on, with a 4-foot west swell, 9-second period, and fresh offshore winds from the SE. The energy is still moderate (301). That’s a clean setup, but again, the report flags it as marginal with tide.

The real heavyweight shows up for the morning of Saturday the 25th of July. We’re looking at a 6-foot west swell, 8-second period, with a combined energy of 415. That’s moderate but building. The wind is a cross-shore from the southwest at 16 mph, which will bring some chop, but the size is there. It’s not perfect, but it’s the biggest wave in the whole outlook.

The Pick: Honestly, given the long dry spell, you have to call it for the 22nd of July morning. That 6-foot of west swell with clean offshore wind is the best combination of size and quality we see. For a bit of a gamble, keep an eye on the 25th of July morning for the biggest swell of the period, but expect some chop from the cross-shore wind.

Portreath Beach is a fairly exposed spot, fairly consistent, with an intermediate difficulty. The crowds are listed as "often" around here, so don't expect solitude. The optimum swell direction is from the NW, but the best we get is from the west, so it’s a bit angled, but it should still wrap in.

Rusty, signing off.

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