Gwithian
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.4m N
Wind: 15 km/h NE (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: NW
Cross-offshore wind. Still favourable, expect reasonably clean waves with some texture.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:38Expected 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.
Today's briefing
0.3m swell at 7s on a short period. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 13°C.
AI-generated summary for Gwithian. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Gwithian
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 6am (score: 2). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
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 08:38
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Gwithian.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 4 days of logged conditions.
About Gwithian
Gwithian is an expansive, highly consistent beach break located at the northern end of St Ives Bay in Cornwall. The seafloor comprises a wide, gently sloping expanse of fine silica sand that creates multiple shifting sandbanks along the three-mile stretch. Facing north-west, it captures unattenuated westerly Atlantic groundswells effectively. A south-easterly wind blows directly offshore here, grooming the peaks to create clean, workable A-frames. Because the sandy gradient is relatively gradual, the waves tend to spill nicely, offering steep faces without the violent, jacking shorebreak found at steeper beaches. This highly functional bathymetry makes Gwithian perfectly suited for intermediate surfers. It provides highly reliable, long walls ideal for practising speed generation and carving manoeuvres. The sheer size of the beach ensures the line-up remains diffuse, providing a safe, high-quality environment for progression away from concentrated crowds.
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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 Gwithian. 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 Gwithian?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.