Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the outlook for Paignton over the next 16 days is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch with next to nothing worth paddling out for. The models are showing a big gap of poor conditions right through the middle of the period, and it’s not until the very end of the run that we might see a tiny window of clean-ish surf.

Right now, starting Wednesday the 8th, there’s zero energy in the water (0). The water is much warmer than usual for this time of year at 64°, but with a cross-shore breeze and no swell, it’s a no-go. Thursday the 9th is the same story – flat and cross-onshore. Friday the 10th brings a tiny 2 ft east swell, but it’s a weak 3-second period and the wind is messy. That’s not surfable.

The weekend is a write-off. Saturday the 11th shows a 4 ft east swell but with a moderate cross-onshore, making it choppy. Sunday the 12th has a bit more size – 6 ft to 6 ft east swell – but the wind is up to 19 mph, creating lumpy, poor conditions. The combined energy is moderate (255 to 338), but it’s all wasted. The same goes for Monday the 13th with a 8 ft east swell and a fresh cross-onshore. That’s too big for beginners and the wind is a disaster. For experienced surfers, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 17th stay poor, with onshore winds and weak, short-period swell. The only flicker of hope comes on Thursday afternoon the 16th. We get a 3 ft east swell with a gentle offshore wind from the WSW. The conditions are described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – it’s clean, but the energy is weak (76). It’s something, but barely.

The real standout, and it’s a very minor one, is the morning of Saturday the 18th. First light will be glassy with a 3 ft east swell. The wind is dead calm, and the combined energy is weak (69). It’s small, but for a beginner at Paignton, this is about as good as it gets in this forecast. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few others with the same idea. But don’t get excited – it’s not going to be a classic.

From Sunday the 19th onward, it’s back to flatness. We’re looking at swells of 1 ft or less, with strong offshore winds that are too hard to paddle into. There’s a long gap of no real recommendations right through to the end of the 16-day window on the 23rd.

So, the call is: hang up your board for a while. The one clean, glassy session on the morning of the 18th is your best bet, but it’s a small, weak day. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because with this area, it tends not to stay poor forever.

Rusty.

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