Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. I’m looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve got to be straight with you—it’s a bit of a flat spell for the most part. We’re talking about Paignton here, and to be honest, the ocean’s just not playing ball for a good long while.

Right now, we’re staring down the barrel of a quiet run. From Tuesday the 28th of July, all the way through to the 1st of August, there’s simply no decent swell to speak of. The water’s warm, way warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 67°F with a big anomaly of 5°F—that’s a pleasant surprise for a paddle, but it won’t get you a wave. The wind might be light or even glassy on the Friday morning, but without any swell, it’s just a pretty lake. It’s a frustrating gap of nearly a week with nothing to recommend.

Now, we finally see a little pulse of life rolling in on Sunday the 2nd of August. A tiny, weak easterly windswell tries to push in, with a height of about 2 ft and a short, weak period of 4 seconds. The combined energy is next to nothing at just 7, so barely a bump. The wind is onshore and choppy in the afternoon, making it a messy affair. Not one for the quiver. Monday the 3rd looks a touch better, with a 2 ft swell from the east and a period of 6 seconds, giving us a bit more energy (39). The morning starts with a light cross-shore, and the afternoon sees a cross-offshore breeze, keeping things clean. But look, 2 ft and short period? It’s small, it’s weak, and it’s only going to offer a few little crumbly waves for the absolute beginners on a foam board.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. From the 4th of August right through to the 9th, we’re looking at a total washout. Another long gap of almost a week with zero surfable energy. There’s a glimmer on the 7th of August with another 2 ft, 6-second easterly swell, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore, creating a chop. It’s just not worth the hassle.

The only other faint whisper comes right at the tail end of the forecast, around the 10th and 11th of August. We see a tiny 1 ft swell from the north-northeast, with a period of 3 seconds and energy of 2 or 3. The wind is offshore or cross-offshore, which is a nice touch, but the swell is so pathetic it’s barely a ripple. On the 12th of August, we get a similar 2 ft easterly pulse, but it’s onshore wind, so you can forget it.

So, what’s the bottom line? There is no standout session here. The best you’ll get is Monday the 3rd of August, with that small 2 ft easterly swell and a clean cross-offshore wind in the afternoon. For a beginner, it might be a laugh, but for anyone else, don’t expect to get your hair wet. The water is warm, but the surf is dead. It’s one of those blank runs that’s pretty normal for the area when the charts are this quiet. We’ll keep an eye on it, but for now, wax the longboard and wait.

Rusty.

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