Porthleven
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.2m WSW
Wind: 18 km/h ENE (offshore)
Beach faces: SSW
Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Ideal conditions, holding up wave faces for cleaner surf.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 10:25Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 13°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
0.5m swell at 7s on a short period. Moderate winds. Water temperature 14°C.
AI-generated summary for Porthleven. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Porthleven
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 9pm (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 modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
4 nearby outfallsUpdated 10:25
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Porthleven.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 4 days of logged conditions.
About Porthleven
Porthleven is a notoriously powerful, high-consequence right-hand reef break situated adjacent to the harbour wall on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The bathymetry is defined by a shallow, highly uneven slate rock ledge that drops abruptly into deeper water. This sudden depth transition flawlessly intercepts robust south-westerly winter groundswells travelling up the English Channel. When the swell encounters the shallow rock shelf, it pitches violently to produce a thick, immensely powerful, top-to-bottom plunging barrel immediately upon take-off. A north-easterly offshore wind is necessary to hold the heavy lip open. Due to the extreme hydraulic power, the unforgiving nature of the jagged slate base, and the highly concentrated, steep take-off zone, Porthleven is strictly reserved for advanced surfers. The wave demands rapid, precise positioning and elite tube-riding proficiency to navigate the high-speed section before the wave closes out dangerously close to the harbour wall.
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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 Porthleven. 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 Porthleven?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.