Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 4s period, SE swell with 6 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.5m 4s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-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 (Sep 11) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The 16-day outlook for the Paignton area is a real tough one. We’re looking at a blank stretch with no real surf on offer for the first several days, and it doesn’t get much better from there.
The only break on the radar is Paignton itself, and I gotta say, it’s a flat spell. The water’s sitting at 65°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a warm bath, but doesn’t help the waves. From Saturday the 5th right through to the 12th, there’s barely a ripple. The combined energy of all swells is zero most days, with a few tiny pulses showing up on the 6th and 13th, but they’re weak, with wave energy only reaching 12 (moderate) at best. Those are small, short-period windswells from the east or southeast, with periods of 3 to 5 seconds – not enough to get a beginner’s board wet.
The wind does swing offshore a few times – like Sunday morning the 7th with a clean WNW 9 mph breeze, and the 11th with a moderate offshore – but with no swell to work with, it’s just a clean, flat ocean. The break is inconsistent and fairly exposed, so it needs a proper push to wake up, and it’s just not happening.
Come the 13th of September, we get a tiny pulse of 2 ft from the east at 4 seconds, but it’s cross-onshore from the NE, so it’ll be choppy. Not worth paddling out for. After that, the rest of the window through to the 20th is dead flat again, with light onshore winds and zero energy. For a spot like Paignton, this kind of blank run is more normal than you’d hope – just the way it goes sometimes.
Hang in there, forecasts can change. For now, the board stays in the van.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the SW by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Wed night, fresh winds from the SW by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 7 | S 13 | SE 3 | SE 4 | E 4 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 10 | W 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:32AM2.74m | 2:21PM2.80m | 3:26AM2.67m | 4:14PM2.93m | 5:08AM2.91m | 5:33PM3.27m | 6:10AM3.25m | 6:26PM3.63m | 6:56AM3.56m | 7:10PM3.91m | 7:36AM3.78m | 7:48PM4.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:37PM1.11m | 7:20AM1.24m | 8:31PM1.25m | 9:14AM1.26m | 10:11PM1.03m | 10:34AM1.00m | 11:13PM0.68m | 11:29AM0.67m | 00:00AM0.34m | 12:13PM0.37m | 00:41AM0.07m | 12:53PM0.13m | 1:17AM-0.10m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | SW 7 | W 7 | W 8 | SSE 4 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | — | WSW 5 | WSW 9 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | W 11 | W 10 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SW 7 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 57 | 27 | 56 | — | 3 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 29 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | W 10 | W 10 | — | E 4 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | W 13 | W 12 | — | — | SW 6 | WSW 9 | — |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | 32 | 15 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 13 | — | — | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | SSE 5 | — |
| kJ | 7 | 3 | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | WSW 10 | W 3 | NW 2 | WSW 3 | — | — | SW 4 | SSW 5 | W 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | 7 | — | 4 | 6 | — | — | 10 | 8 | 2 | 77 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 10 | 77 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 81 | 92 | 126 | 30 | 29 | 193 | 115 | 246 | 246 | 29 | 30 | 113 | 84 | 30 | 180 | 468 | 246 | 245 | 30 |
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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