Surf Forecasts:
The Breakwater-St Ives surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, WNW swell with 300 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Breakwater-St Ives this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Breakwater-St Ives in the next 16 days are 1.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 14s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Breakwater-St Ives over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. To be honest with you, it’s a pretty bleak picture for the next couple of weeks at The Breakwater-St Ives. This is a classic point break setup, but the charts are showing next to nothing in the way of proper surf. For the vast majority of the 16-day window, the conditions are just poor, with onshore or cross-onshore winds and small, weak swell. We’re looking at a long stretch of days with nothing worth paddling out for.
Friday the 14th is a write-off. Tiny 3ft swell from the west with a short 9-second period and a moderate cross-onshore breeze. It’s not even worth checking. Saturday the 15th is worse, with a strong onshore wind ruining any chance of a clean wave. Sunday the 16th through to Monday the 24th is more of the same—small, weak, and messy. The combined swell energy is mostly under 100 (moderate energy) for most of that period, which tells you there’s just no power in the water. There’s a bit more size from the 19th to the 21st, with the swell pushing up to 4ft to 6ft, but the wind is straight onshore or cross-onshore, making it lumpy and choppy. Not for us.
Then from the 22nd right through to the 26th of August, the swell drops right off again, with heights barely scraping 2ft. The combined energy values are low, mostly below 100 (weak energy). There’s one brief moment on the morning of the 26th where the wind goes glassy (SE 5 km/h), which would make for a pretty surface, but the swell is only 1ft with a long 10-second period. You’d be bobbing around on a lake.
Now, the only glimmer of something interesting comes on Thursday the 27th of August. The swell suddenly jumps to 5ft from the west with a 9-second period. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the ESE at 30 km/h, which should make for some clean faces. The combined energy spikes to 408 (strong wave energy). This is the closest we get to a standout, but honestly, at 5ft with a 9-second period, it’s not a classic point break wave. It’s a bit too short-period for a point, which often makes it a bit fat and sectiony. Still, if you’re desperate, the Thursday morning session is the only time in the whole 16 days where the wind is actually clean. By Friday the 28th, it’s all over again.
So, if you’re an intermediate surfer, this is a blank run. The Breakwater is inconsistent at the best of times, and this forecast is about as poor as it gets. For a point break, we need a longer period swell from the north-west to really come alive, and we just don’t get one in this window. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing when the wind gets up. The best advice? Wait for the next forecast.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 17°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 5 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
129 | 123 | 165 | 117 | 95 | 55 | 18 | 25 | 12 | 37 | 115 | 77 | 64 | 86 | 83 | 258 | 271 | 137 | 234 | 169 | 244 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:47AM6.05m | 7:06PM6.40m | 7:27AM6.06m | 7:46PM6.31m | 8:06AM5.92m | 8:24PM6.05m | 8:44AM5.67m | 9:03PM5.67m | 9:22AM5.33m | 9:41PM5.22m | 10:01AM4.94m | 10:23PM4.75m | 10:47AM4.53m | 11:15PM4.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:10PM0.00m | 1:36AM-0.10m | 1:50PM0.04m | 2:14AM0.05m | 2:27PM0.22m | 2:51AM0.34m | 3:04PM0.54m | 3:26AM0.72m | 3:41PM0.93m | 4:02AM1.16m | 4:21PM1.36m | 4:43AM1.59m | 5:07PM1.77m | ||||||||
6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | NW 6 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 |
129 | 123 | 165 | 117 | 95 | 55 | 18 | 25 | 8 | 27 | 12 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 76 | 21 | 33 | 19 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | SW 13 | — | — | SW 12 | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | SW 18 | — | S 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | NW 15 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | — |
3 | 3 | 7 | — | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 12 | — | 7 | 28 | 11 | 8 | 24 | — | 23 | 21 | 41 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 10 | — | — | S 20 | WSW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | — | — | SSW 17 | SW 17 | W 11 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | — | — | — | 28 | 11 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | — | — | NW 4 | WNW 5 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 |
— | — | 2 | 19 | 19 | 18 | — | — | 4 | 37 | 115 | 77 | 64 | 86 | 83 | 258 | 271 | 137 | 234 | 169 | 244 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 49 | 14 | 280 | 240 | 187 | 385 | 393 | 271 | 271 | 214 | 1 | 35 | 214 | 194 | 99 | 214 | 284 | 739 | 214 | 99 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











