Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, E swell with 603 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Paignton’s got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this is a tough stretch. For the first few days, there’s barely a ripple to get excited about. The water’s a balmy 67°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only good news. We’re looking at a gap of pretty much nothing worth paddling out for until the 24th of August.
Come Monday morning, the 24th of August, things finally wake up. A solid E swell pushes in at 7ft, with a short, choppy period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (392). Problem is, we’ve got a fresh onshore wind from the E at 22 mph, making it a messy, poor surf situation. That afternoon, the swell bumps up to 8ft, energy jumps to 603, but it’s still onshore and ugly. Honestly, with that much wind and swell, this setup at Paignton looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s a beach setup, so that long-period groundswell isn’t really a factor here – it’s just a short-period wind mess.
The 25th of August, Tuesday, offers a drop in size to 5ft from the E, with a period of 6 seconds. The wind is still onshore, though lighter. The energy is down to 163. It’s still not clean, and the surf quality is poor.
After that, from the 26th of August right through to the 6th of September, we’re looking at a long, dry spell. The swell completely dies, with wave heights dropping to zero or near-zero. The winds do go offshore and clean on a few days – the 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th of August, and the 6th of September look glassy or clean offshore – but without any swell to push through, it’s a flat, lonely ocean. You’ll be sitting on your board watching the horizon, waiting for a ghost.
The best on offer? There isn’t a standout. The only window with any real swell is that Monday the 24th, but the conditions are so poor it’s a write-off. For the rest of the 16 days, you’re better off doing something else. It’s a blank run, and for this area, that’s a pretty normal pattern when the wind sets in wrong.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Tue morning, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 2 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | S 3 | SSW 7 | ESE 3 | E 5 | S 4 | S 4 | SW 7 | SW 5 | WSW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 45 | 392 | 603 | 461 | 163 | 52 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 1:38PM2.55m | 2:18AM2.39m | 3:26PM2.50m | 4:39AM2.44m | 5:20PM2.72m | 5:54AM2.70m | 6:12PM3.04m | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | 7:11AM3.27m | 7:22PM3.63m | 7:43AM3.50m | 7:54PM3.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:30PM1.62m | 9:18AM1.58m | 10:16PM1.49m | 10:35AM1.39m | 11:13PM1.23m | 11:24AM1.13m | 11:53PM0.94m | 12:01PM0.85m | 00:27AM0.64m | 12:33PM0.58m | 00:58AM0.36m | 1:05PM0.34m | 1:28AM0.13m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | E 4 | E 4 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 8 | E 5 | E 4 | S 4 | SW 7 | E 5 | SW 7 | SW 7 | W 13 | — | SW 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 44 | 19 | 4 | — | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | W 10 | S 15 | SE 4 | W 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | W 8 | — | ESE 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 15 | W 10 | — | W 10 | — | W 10 | W 9 | SW 13 | W 8 | S 13 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | SW 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 2 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | — | S 3 | — | ESE 3 | SSW 6 | S 4 | S 4 | SW 7 | SW 5 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 7 | — | 3 | 1 | 20 | 45 | 392 | 603 | 461 | 163 | 52 | — | 2 | — | 4 | 81 | 14 | 8 | 144 | 77 | 45 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 85 | 156 | 91 | 105 | 98 | 87 | 278 | 180 | 193 | 265 | 110 | 81 | 105 | 87 | 87 | 96 | 126 | 30 | 88 | 56 | 378 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Paignton Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Paignton provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Paignton can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Paignton surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Paignton) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Paignton may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Paignton is 1 km (1 miles) from the city of Paignton. If you plan a holiday in South Devon, look for hotels and other accommodation in Paignton. Paignton has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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