Porthmeor
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
ClearWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.2m WNW
Wind: 8 km/h NNE (onshore)
Beach faces: NNW
Onshore wind (blowing from sea to land). Expect choppier, less defined waves.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 15:28Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 12°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Forecast accuracy at Porthmeor
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
quiet before the morning rush, conditions building through the session
quiet before the morning rush, conditions building through the session
uncrowded conditions
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 15:28
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Porthmeor.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Porthmeor
Porthmeor is a highly scenic, semi-sheltered beach break situated in the town of St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The bathymetry features an expanse of highly compacted, pristine sand enclosed between two prominent rocky headlands. Because the beach faces north, it heavily filters the extreme violence of raw westerly Atlantic winter storms, allowing more organised, moderate swell energy to enter the bay. The location operates optimally on a north-westerly groundswell paired with a southerly offshore wind. The gradual sandy gradient ensures the waves break with a workable profile, generating highly manageable A-frame peaks offering both left and right-hand rides. The forgiving mechanics, combined with the structural protection from extreme weather, make Porthmeor highly suitable for intermediate surfers. It provides predictable walls for carving manoeuvres, serving as an excellent, consistent urban training ground when fully exposed regional beaches are overloaded by heavy swell.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Porthmeor. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Porthmeor?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.