Surf Forecasts:
The Breakwater-St Ives surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, W swell with 804 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Breakwater-St Ives this week:
The surf forecast for The Breakwater-St Ives over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Breakwater-St Ives in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Breakwater-St Ives over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks. It’s been a tricky run, but we’ve got a few moments to work with, so let’s get into it.
Right from the get-go, the outlook is a bit of a slow burner. We’re looking at The Breakwater-St Ives, a point break that’s inconsistent, but when it lines up, it’s a gem. The water is sitting at 63°, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year, so no wetsuit drama there.
The first real chance to paddle out comes on Saturday, the 22nd of August, but honestly, it’s a write-off. We’ve got a tiny 2 ft W swell with a 10-second period, but a cross-on NE wind at 12 mph is just chopping it all up. The combined energy is a weak 84, so it’s a no-go. The wait continues through Sunday and Monday, with the wind getting stronger and the swell staying small and messy. It’s a frustrating start.
We finally get a tiny window on Tuesday afternoon, the 25th. The swell bumps up to 2 ft from the WNW, and the wind swings offshore from the SSE at 12 mph. It’s clean, but with only 114 combined energy, it’s barely surfable. It’s a session for the longboard if you’re desperate.
Then things get a bit wild. Thursday, the 27th of August, we see a big jump in size. The morning is a mess with a risk of thunderstorms, but by the afternoon, the swell pumps up to 7 ft from the SW. The period is a short 8 seconds, though, and the wind is a cross-off 22 mph from the WSW. The combined energy jumps to 661, which is solid, but the conditions are still rated as poor. This is a big, raw swell, and with that short period, it’s going to be a lumpy, shapeless mess at a point break. It’s not for the faint of heart.
Friday the 28th is a washout. Near gale-force winds from the WNW at 31 mph and a 7 ft swell mean the ocean is a disaster zone. The combined energy is 553, but with that wind, you’re better off buying a kite.
The following Saturday, the 29th of August, we get a bit of a reprieve. The swell drops to 5 ft, and while the wind is still cross-shore, the afternoon sees a cleaner 4 ft from the W with a cross-off breeze. The energy is 144, so it’s small, but clean. It’s a session for the patient soul.
Sunday, the 30th of August, is the one to circle. The afternoon brings a solid 10 ft swell from the SW, with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is a gentle 9 mph from the W, creating a slight cross-shore chop. The combined energy is a massive 1570, so there’s plenty of power. This is big, heavy, and for experts only. It’s messy, but if you’re experienced and can handle the size, it’s the biggest offering of the forecast.
The rest of the first week of September is a mix of moderate to strong winds and lumpy, cross-shore surf. The swell stays around 5 ft to 6 ft, but the wind is never kind. There’s a moment on the 3rd of September with a clean 6 ft swell from the W and a gentle offshore, but the energy is 401, and it’s just a marginal call.
The standout in the second week is Saturday, the 5th of September. The morning brings a 6 ft swell from the WNW with a long 11-second period and a cross-off wind from the SSW at 22 mph. The combined energy is 792, so it’s a solid, powerful groundswell. That long period will make for some nice, lined-up waves at this point break, but the wind is still fresh, so it won’t be glassy. It’s promising, but not a slam dunk.
Overall, don’t expect much until at least the 25th, and even then, it’s a fight. The one true standout is the massive, raw 10 ft swell on the 30th of August, but it’s a beast for experts only. The rest of the run is a waiting game.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sat night, strong winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue night, strong winds from the W by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 12 | WSW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 11 | SW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
45 | 25 | 14 | 14 | 54 | 38 | 31 | 28 | 12 | 58 | 75 | 59 | 49 | 33 | 28 | 11 | 624 | 138 | 553 | 520 | 655 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:13PM4.00m | 2:02AM3.94m | 2:43PM4.12m | 3:19AM4.15m | 3:46PM4.44m | 4:12AM4.49m | 4:32PM4.83m | 4:52AM4.85m | 5:09PM5.22m | 5:27AM5.19m | 5:43PM5.57m | 6:00AM5.50m | 6:15PM5.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:44PM2.23m | 8:26AM2.22m | 9:14PM2.06m | 9:41AM1.94m | 10:14PM1.71m | 10:31AM1.56m | 10:57PM1.31m | 11:10AM1.16m | 11:34PM0.93m | 11:45AM0.81m | 00:07AM0.59m | 12:18PM0.52m | 00:39AM0.35m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 5 | W 9 | N 4 | WSW 12 | SE 6 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SE 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 7 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 8 | S 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 |
39 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 54 | 13 | 31 | 28 | 23 | 58 | 75 | 59 | 49 | 33 | 158 | 11 | 37 | 138 | 45 | 165 | 29 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WNW 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | N 5 | WSW 10 | N 4 | W 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 8 | E 5 | E 6 | WNW 10 | SSW 9 | — | — |
45 | 12 | 54 | 51 | 7 | 38 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 34 | 43 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 55 | 29 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 9 | SW 14 | N 4 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 13 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | SW 13 | N 6 | N 6 | SW 12 | — | — | SW 12 | — | — | — |
21 | 25 | 3 | 14 | 49 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | NE 4 | ESE 6 | SE 3 | SSE 2 | SSW 7 | S 7 | ESE 4 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
— | — | 13 | 1 | 15 | — | 70 | 76 | 5 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 73 | 146 | 16 | 887 | 624 | 161 | 553 | 520 | 655 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 12 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 376 | 376 | 197 | 190 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 214 | 214 | 127 | 171 | 170 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the The Breakwater-St Ives Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Breakwater-St Ives provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Breakwater-St Ives can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Breakwater-St Ives 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 (The Breakwater-St Ives) 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 The Breakwater-St Ives 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.
The Breakwater-St Ives is 11 km (7 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.











