At 6.20 a.m:
Constantine (2*): 3 feet.
The wind has eased a little and the sky is not quite as threatening as it might have been earlier in the week but it is still an overcast start and the wind is still strong enough and onshore enough to effect the surf.
Three feet or so of dark and brooding surf is rolling ashore, the wind wrestling those thick waves to the sand a smidgeon earlier than would be ideal. So it is still all a little sloppy, all a little choppy and all a little tired and fat looking really.
But the forecasts are looking promising, the sky should brighten soon enough, the wind is likely to gradually ease through the day and the surf should smarten itself up as we go along.
It should all come good eventually today!
Harlyn (2*): 2 feet.
A couple of feet of crumbly and lazy looking waves are stumbling to shore just ahead of high tide, those little waves made fatter by the tide and slopped a little by the wind. The wind is side to onshore here this morning and will probably remain from that direction even as its strength weakens a little.
So, it’s not great but it should end up being fun and we might even eventually get some sunshine!
Today’s Tide Times:
Low Tide: 14:11 (1.0m) High Tide: 20:07 (7.3m)
Surf Forecast for Saturday 6th August 2016
Light south westerly winds should be breezing through all day long today, the swell having weakened off but the weather improving as we go along.
So a couple to three feet of slopped out main break surfing is on the cards for today with really very small but much cleaner Harlyn maybe just managing to offer a weak alternative.
It could end up being fun though!
Surf Conditions for the Weekend
As this week blows itself out in an autumnal whirr of strong onshore winds and stabbing downpours, a more pleasant weekend is quietly approaching.
This weekend does promise to be a weekend of two halves, for surfers anyway.
Light onshore, south westerly, winds will chop the surf at the main breaks through Saturday, blowing steadily offshore at the sheltered spots and smoothing the very few tiny waves that manage to get around and into them.
By Sunday we should be enjoying the sight of a new and growing swell, a thick and lumpy, fast building swell pushing onto our coastline with some vigour.
With clearer skies than we have been enjoying for a good few days, this weekend is promising pretty much something of everything for everyone!
Don’t forget the sunblock!
Have a great weekend, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing!
SJ’s Surf Forecast for the SW
Forecast last updated at 07:15 Friday 5th August 2016
Hi everyone – these updates are currently made at any time of the day as and when I get the time/chance to update – however from September the intention would be for it to be updated every weekday morning by 10am.
[Don’t forget to look at this forecast the day before you go beach for the latest, as things can often change!]
The Rest Of The Week:
‘Autumnal feel to this week with strong winds and plenty of rain.’
Sunrise and sunset – 05:55 and 20:55
Twilight starts and ends – 05:15 and 21:35
Midday – 13:25
Length of day – 15:00
Offshore Sea Temp approx – 16.5C / 62F
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Monday 1st:
‘Small onshore waves.’
Swell – (i) Weak WSW-SW
Wind – Light-Medium going Medium SW
Weather – Overcast with heavy heavy rain
North Coast – 3ft (Waisthigh)
South Coast – 1-2ft (Kneehigh)
Tides – 11:09 Low, 17:09 High
Tuesday 2nd:
‘Sheltered spots on the North should be working with a clean wave.’
Swell – (i) Weak going OK W-WSW
Wind – Medium-Strong going Medium SW
Weather – Overcast and rainy start, with the rain stopping by lunchtime
North Coast – 6ft (Headhigh)
South Coast – 2-4ft (Waisthigh)
Tides – 05:28 Low, 11:49 Low, 17:49 High
Wednesday 3rd:
‘Strong wind! Sheltered spots should be holding a good wave on both coasts. Be careful out there.’
Swell – (i) OK W-WSW going W
Wind – Medium going Medium-Strong WSW
Weather – Mixture of cloud and sunshine
North Coast – 6-8ft (Overhead) going 8-10ft (1.5 x Overhead)
South Coast – 3ft (Waisthigh) going 3-4ft (Waist-Chesthigh)
Tides – 06:13 High, 12:31 Low, 18:31 High
Thursday 4th:
‘Nothing on the North with large even dangerous conditions.’
Swell – (i) OK W
Wind – Medium W going WNW
Weather – Mixture of cloud and sunshine, with the odd light shower
North Coast – 6-8ft (Overhead) going 4-5ft (Chest-Shoulderhigh)
South Coast – 3ft (Waisthigh) going 1-3ft (Knee-Waisthigh)
Tides – 06:53 High, 13:10 Low, 19:11 High (Spring tides)
Friday 5th:
‘Poor quality junky/mushy waves.’
Swell – (i) OK W-WNW going Weak W
Wind – Light-Medium W
Weather – Mixture of cloud and sunshine
North Coast – 3-4ft (Waist-Chesthigh) going 2-3ft (Knee-Waisthigh)
South Coast – 1-2t (Kneehigh)
Tides – 07:32 High, 13:50 Low, 19:49 High
Weekend Summary:
‘All change for the weekend, as the track of the low has adjusted itself over the last 24 hours.’
Saturday 6th:
‘It’s now looking like there could well be a ‘window’ in the winds as they turn light SW for Saturday morning. This should mean there’ll be a small cleanish wave despite the cross/onshore winds.’
Swell – (i) Weak W-WSW
Wind – Light W-SW going Medium SW
Weather –Warm bright and sunny. Early morning cloud will soon disappear, leaving a fine day, however it will become overcast by evening.
North Coast – 1-3ft (Knee-Waisthigh)
South Coast – 1ft
Tides – 08:09 High, 14:26 Low, 20:24 High
Sunday 7th:
‘Although the new long-range swell is still due to hit on Sunday, the winds now look like they’ll be a medium W which will unfortunately destroy any quality waves for the North. The south coast might be worth a look towards the low tide mid afternoon.’
Swell – (i) Weak W-WSW going Strong W
Wind – Medium WSW going W
Weather – Cloudy and damp start, soon drying to leave a cloudy but dry day.
North Coast – 2-3ft (Knee-Waisthigh) soon going 8-10ft (1.5 x overhead)
South Coast – 1ft going 3-4ft (Waist-Chesthigh)
Tides – 08:44 High, 15:01 Low, 20:59 High
Early Next Week:
‘Summer flat spell coming!! Monday and Tuesday, however with NW winds on Monday turning N-NW on Tuesday, the south coast might be your better bet for a small but clean wave. Wednesday will see the surf get even smaller as a large ‘blocking’ high pressure moves in over the British Isles bringing good weather and light winds, but there are no signs of any swell.’
The scale for measuring conditions:
0-1ft – Unridable/Flat
1-2ft – Kneehigh
3ft – Waisthigh
4-5ft – Chest/Shoulderhigh
6ft – Headhigh
6-8ft = 1-1.5x Overhead
8-10ft = 1.5x Overhead
10-12ft = 2x Overhead
Please Note!
Wave height predictions are based on the larger breaks on both coasts such as Fistral and Croyde for the North, and Praa Sands and Bantham for the South.
Wave height is measured from the front of the wave, and 6ft would usually mean a ‘head-high’ wave.
Try and use some ‘local’ knowledge about what the wave sizes will be elsewhere. For example the Newquay Bay area is generally 1/3 to 3/4 the size of Fistral, increasing the further up the bay you go from Towan to Lusty Glaze, and that it will be clean on a W wind at ‘harbour left’ at Towan at mid-tide’ for example.
Tide times are based on Newquay.
Stay Stoked!
SJ