Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 23 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 2s period, ESE swell with 1 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.3m 2s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 23) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 23rd Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 2s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's be honest. The surfboard's gathering dust for a stretch here in Paignton. We're on a proper flat spell, and it's gonna linger for a while. The first part of this whole run is a real bummer – day after day of no swell and just clean but empty water. It's the kind of thing that has you checking the forecast out of habit, not hope.
There's a long stretch of nothing from the 15th right through to the 22nd of September. We see some pretty clean, offshore mornings, but it's all for nothing if there's no ocean movement. Water temp is about normal, so don't stress about the chill, but you'll be pulling on that wetsuit for the exercise of it all.
Finally, we get a whisper of something on the 23rd, but it's so weak and small it's only going to interest the truly devoted. The combined energy is in the single digits – just nothing behind it.
This all builds to our one real standout moment, which is on the 26th of September. We finally get a bit of life with a 1.1m easterly swell. The period is a short 5 seconds, so it's not doing us any favors on a beach break, but after almost a week of nothing, it's a welcome sight. The morning has a bit of a cross-off breeze, which might keep it clean enough for a few corners.
But, as quickly as it appears, it's gone. The 27th is smaller, and by the 28th through the 30th, we're back to square one. There is another small bump of swell on the 1st of October, but it's wrapping in with a lot of east in it and an onshore wind, so you'd be fighting for a closeout. The whole run is a test of patience, to be honest. The 26th is your best bet, but keep the expectations low. It's been a while since we've had any proper push.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Tue night, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri night, calm by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | W 11 | WSW 4 | SW 6 | W 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 12 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | W 8 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | W 13 | W 12 | W 9 | W 20 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:08AM3.50m | 10:23PM3.36m | 10:36AM3.27m | 10:53PM3.07m | 11:09AM3.01m | 11:30PM2.79m | 11:53AM2.75m | 00:23AM2.53m | 12:59PM2.55m | 1:47AM2.35m | 2:41PM2.49m | 3:53AM2.41m | 4:31PM2.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:42PM0.42m | 3:57AM0.57m | 4:14PM0.71m | 4:27AM0.88m | 4:47PM1.04m | 5:00AM1.20m | 5:28PM1.37m | 5:47AM1.51m | 7:02PM1.66m | 8:25AM1.70m | 9:54PM1.54m | 10:12AM1.49m | 10:49PM1.23m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | W 11 | — | SW 6 | W 10 | SW 6 | WSW 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 5 | W 11 | WSW 6 | SW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 |
| kJ | 22 | 25 | 9 | — | 11 | 8 | 5 | 33 | 102 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 50 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 8 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | W 11 | W 13 | W 12 | — | W 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 20 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | WNW 3 | W 3 | WSW 4 | W 3 | W 3 | — | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 5 | 5 | — | 18 | 43 | 28 | 29 | 10 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 170 | 193 | 298 | 193 | 131 | 251 | 180 | 180 | 251 | 180 | 64 | 29 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 114 | 98 | 81 | 29 | 29 |
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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