Porthtowan
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.7m NNW
Wind: 19 km/h NNE (cross-onshore)
Beach faces: WNW
Cross-onshore wind. Wave faces are getting chopped up, conditions are average.
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 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
0.5m swell at 7s. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 13°C.
AI-generated summary for Porthtowan. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Porthtowan
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: 7). 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 low-mid tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 10:25
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Porthtowan.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 4 days of logged conditions.
About Porthtowan
Porthtowan is a highly concentrated, immensely powerful beach break situated in a deep valley on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The bathymetry is entirely defined by exceptionally steep, shifting silica sandbanks heavily constrained by towering, rugged cliffs on either side of the bay. This specific geography captures raw westerly Atlantic groundswells, funnelling the energy directly onto the steep shoreline gradient. When the swell impacts the sudden vertical sandbars, the ocean heaves violently, producing incredibly thick, top-to-bottom plunging left and right-hand barrels, particularly at low tide. An easterly offshore wind is crucial to hold the heavy lips open. Due to the extreme hydraulic force, the immediate proximity of the break to the shallow sand, and the rapid, near-vertical take-offs, Porthtowan is primarily the domain of advanced surfers. It is a highly consequential, high-speed arena demanding absolute commitment and elite tube-riding proficiency to avoid severe shorebreak wipeouts.
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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 Porthtowan. 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 Porthtowan?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.