Paignton Surf Break

Lat Long: 50.43° N 3.56° W

Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 15 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Paignton sea temperature is
19.6° C
2.8° 

Paignton surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Paignton surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 3s period, NE swell with 5 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 3s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 7AM (Sun 16th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 3s

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's cooking for Paignton over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight up with you, it’s looking pretty lean for a good while. We’ve got a real flat spell coming in. From right now, the surf is minimal and poor, and then from the 17th of August right through until the morning of the 23rd, there’s basically nothing rideable—just clean offshore winds on dead flat water. That’s a six-day stretch of no surf, which is a tough run. The water temp is sitting at 67°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year (an anomaly of 5°F), so at least the flat days will be pleasant for a swim.

The first proper sign of life shows up on Sunday the 23rd of August in the afternoon. We’re looking at a tiny pulse of swell coming from the NE at 2ft, but it’s a short-period windswell with just 4 seconds between waves. The combined energy is weak at just (12). To make matters worse, the wind is straight onshore from the east, so that’s not going to do it any favours. It's a poor outlook for surfing.

The best of a bad bunch looks like it might be Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th. On Friday morning the 28th, we get a little bump up to 3ft from the east with a slightly better 5-second period and glassy conditions—zero wind. That’s clean but the energy is still weak (42). It’s a beginner-friendly size, so if you’re desperate for a splash, that’s your window. The swell direction from the east is right off the optimum for Paignton which prefers it from the east, so it’s at least heading in the right direction for the sandbanks.

Saturday the 29th morning is glassy but smaller again, with 1ft. Look, there's not a single standout session in this whole sixteen-day window. It’s a long, slow period with very little energy, and most days the swell is virtually non-existent. The consistency is poor, and when there is a wave, the quality is rated as poor.

For kite surfers, any of those afternoons with a solid cross-off or side wind and flat water might be more interesting than paddling.

Stay patient, and check back in a week.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NW by Thu night).

Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NNE
3
0.4
NE
4
0.3
N
3
0.4
NE
4
0.2
ENE
5
0.1
SW
5
0.4
W
4
0.5
WSW
3
0.1
W
9
0.1
S
16
0.6
WSW
3
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
16
0.7
WSW
3
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
14
0.7
WSW
4
0.1
S
14
0.2
WSW
10
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4
6
1
5
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wind (km/h)
15
NNE
10
S
15
NNW
15
NNE
15
SSW
10
NW
10
NNW
15
W
10
W
20
W
25
W
15
NW
15
W
25
WSW
20
W
20
W
25
W
10
W
15
N
20
NW
10
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:25PM4.13m
9:48AM3.81m
9:59PM3.96m
10:20AM3.66m
10:31PM3.71m
10:51AM3.45m
11:01PM3.41m
11:21AM3.22m
11:33PM3.11m
11:54AM2.97m
00:10AM2.82m
12:36PM2.74m
00:59AM2.56m
Low Tide
2:29PM0.01m
2:55AM-0.09m
3:06PM0.10m
3:30AM0.07m
3:42PM0.28m
4:04AM0.31m
4:17PM0.52m
4:37AM0.60m
4:53PM0.82m
5:12AM0.92m
5:32PM1.13m
5:53AM1.24m
6:26PM1.44m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:07
6:09
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:34
8:31
8:30
8:29
8:27
8:24
8:22
 mm
3
2
Temp °C
23
25
18
21
24
18
23
25
19
23
24
17
20
22
16
20
20
15
18
19
14
Feels °C
22
23
14
19
20
15
22
23
18
21
20
15
17
17
12
16
15
12
15
15
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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