Surf Forecasts:
Towan surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, WNW swell with 542 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Towan this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Towan in the next 16 days are 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Towan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Towan.
To be straight with you, it’s going to be a long, quiet wait. For the first twelve days or so, it’s pretty much flat or junky. From Sunday the 16th right through to Thursday the 27th of August, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, with short-period windswell, and the winds are mostly cross or onshore, chewing up what little bump there is. We’re talking poor surf conditions day after day. The combined wave energy barely gets into triple digits (weak to moderate at best), and most of the time it’s sitting under 100 (weak). You’d be wasting your time.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird about it.
Now, finally, things start to look interesting right at the end of the run. On Friday the 28th of August morning, Towan lights up. The swell jumps to a clean 7ft from the W with a solid 9-second period. The winds swing SSW at a light 6 mph – that’s cross-offshore and clean. The combined energy hits 685 (strong), and the forecast actually says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the standout. It’s a big-ish wave though – over 5ft – so it’s not for beginners. For the crew who know what they’re doing, this is the day. The afternoon keeps it going with 5ft from the W, glassy offshore SW wind at 6 mph, and energy of 408 (moderate to strong). This is your pick. Just keep in mind that crowds are often a thing at Towan, so you won’t be alone.
The weekend after that (Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th) drops back down into the 3ft to 4ft range with clean but weaker conditions. It’s surfable, but nothing like that Friday. By Monday the 31st, it’s back to lumpy cross-shore junk.
So, to sum it up: suffer through the first twelve days, then make a beeline for Towan on Friday the 28th. That’s the one.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | N 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 17 | 16 | 8 | 40 | 99 | 94 | 170 | 115 | 119 | 139 | 188 | 542 | 356 | 304 | 177 | 73 | 53 | 35 | 21 | 48 | 72 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:18AM6.55m | 8:37PM6.67m | 8:56AM6.26m | 9:15PM6.25m | 9:33AM5.88m | 9:53PM5.75m | 10:13AM5.43m | 10:34PM5.22m | 10:57AM4.97m | 11:25PM4.73m | 11:55AM4.57m | 00:36AM4.36m | 1:20PM4.36m | 2:10AM4.29m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:35PM0.27m | 2:58AM0.40m | 3:11PM0.60m | 3:33AM0.81m | 3:48PM1.02m | 4:08AM1.28m | 4:27PM1.49m | 4:48AM1.75m | 5:13PM1.94m | 5:40AM2.17m | 6:19PM2.31m | 6:58AM2.45m | 7:54PM2.45m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | |  | |  | | | |  | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | WNW 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | N 4 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 17 | 16 | 8 | 28 | 99 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 27 | 10 | 23 | 356 | 304 | 177 | 73 | 53 | 35 | 5 | 48 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | W 18 | — | W 9 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | WNW 11 | — | — | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 8 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | 6 | 7 | — | 40 | 12 | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | 8 | 20 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 13 | W 10 | SW 12 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 3 | — | — | W 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | — | N 5 | N 5 | N 4 | N 5 | N 4 | — | N 5 | N 6 |
| kJ | 12 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 94 | 170 | 115 | 119 | 139 | 188 | 542 | — | 16 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 13 | — | 28 | 72 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 244 | 317 | 239 | 281 | 218 | 294 | 281 | 218 | 218 | 232 | 275 | 232 | 232 | 214 | 72 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 59 | 26 | 136 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Cornwall | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Towan Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Towan provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Towan can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Towan 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 (Towan) 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 Towan 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.
Towan is 1 km (1 miles) from Newquay. If you plan a holiday in North Cornwall, look for hotels and other accommodation in Newquay. Newquay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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