Explore / UK

Cornwall.

Now

  · updated 12 hours ago
swell
1.3m
5s
wind
16 kt
north
tide
6.52 m
rising
N E S W
▬ swell – wind
50.45, -5.30
Next days outlook
beta

1.2m west swell at 5-8 seconds holds Saturday under strong north wind, fading to 0.6m Sunday as wind shifts west-northwest and eases to moderate. A fresh pulse builds through the week: 0.6m Monday dawn to 1.7m Thursday peak under moderate to strong west-northwest to west wind, then drops to 0.8m Wednesday as wind shifts east-northeast and lightens. Looks like Thursday dawn under moderate west wind will be the best window.

Swell height

<7s
7–11s
11–13s
13–15s
15–18s
18+s

 

Wave systems

  • primary
  • secondary
  • tertiary
  • wind sea

 

Power

small
solid / average
energetic
heavy

 

Wind speed

light
moderate
strong
blown out

 

Tide

 

Weather

 

Nearby regions

About Cornwall

Cornwall is the south-west tip of England, a granite peninsula that sticks into the Atlantic and the cradle of UK surfing. The north coast is the surf coast. Newquay is the headline town. Fistral is the headline beach, the open sand bowl that hosts Boardmasters every August. Watergate Bay, just north, is the long open beach for size. Sennen Cove, an hour west near Land’s End, is the far-west backup. The Cribbar, the reef off Towan Head, is the local big-wave call.

The west to south-west Atlantic swell runs year-round, but the season is September through February when North Atlantic storms line up. Working size is 0.5 to 3 m at 9 s or longer. South-east is offshore. West and north-west wind breaks it down. The Cribbar wakes up on the biggest days of the year, a handful of locals on it when it does. Summer is small wind swell, beginner season.

Water runs 9 to 10 °C at the March low and 15 to 18 °C by August. A 5/4 with boots and gloves covers winter, a 4/3 the shoulder, a 3/2 summer. Crowds at Fistral pack out on a sunny weekend; Boardmasters week in August is the lineup at its worst. February is the peak: solid swell, water still bearable, holidaymakers gone. When Newquay is at festival capacity, drive west to Sennen or hit the dawn at Watergate.

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