Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 7s period, E swell with 508 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get this straight – we’ve got a 16-day window ahead, and I’m looking at Paignton. Honestly, for the first week and a half, it’s a total write-off. From Friday the 21st right through to the end of the month, the surf is just plain poor. We’ve got days of zero swell energy, and when there is a little bump, the wind is either onshore or cross-shore, ruining any chance of a clean wave. The water is a warm 67°F – that’s about 5°F warmer than usual, which is a real treat, but you’ll be floating on a lake.
The first real chance of anything rideable comes on Monday the 24th of August. The morning shows a 5ft easterly swell with a weak 5-second period, and combined energy of 114 (moderate). The wind is onshore, strong at 22 mph, so it’s going to be a messy, lumpy mess. By the afternoon, the swell jumps to 7ft from the east, period 7 seconds, and energy climbs to 353 (moderate to strong). The wind is still howling onshore at 22 mph. At 7ft, this is pushing into expert territory because of the onshore chop, but it’s just not worth it. The setup at Paignton is a fairly exposed beach, and with that wind, it’s more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.
Tuesday the 25th gets a little better, but still not good. The morning has 4ft from the east, period 6 seconds, energy 117 (moderate), but the wind is onshore at 16 mph. Choppy and ugly. After that, the swell drops off a cliff.
From the 26th of August all the way through to the 5th of September, the combined energy is zero. That’s a solid 10-day gap with absolutely no swell on offer. The wind is offshore or cross-offshore for a lot of those days, which would be perfect if there was any surf, but there isn’t. It’s a flat spell, plain and simple.
So, to wrap it up: there is nothing to get excited about. The only period with any swell is the 24th and 25th of August, and the conditions are so poor that it’s not worth paddling out. The rest of the forecast is a flat, wind-blown desert. Sometimes the area just goes quiet, and this is one of those times.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon night, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon morning, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 4 | ENE 4 | SE 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | S 4 | S 4 | SE 4 | E 3 | SE 3 | SW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 114 | 353 | 396 | 109 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | off | off |
High Tide | 12:36PM2.74m | 00:59AM2.56m | 1:38PM2.55m | 2:18AM2.39m | 3:26PM2.50m | 4:39AM2.44m | 5:20PM2.72m | 5:54AM2.70m | 6:12PM3.04m | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | 7:11AM3.27m | 7:22PM3.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:03AM1.52m | 8:30PM1.62m | 9:18AM1.58m | 10:16PM1.49m | 10:35AM1.39m | 11:13PM1.23m | 11:24AM1.13m | 11:53PM0.94m | 12:01PM0.85m | 00:27AM0.64m | 12:33PM0.58m | 00:58AM0.36m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | — | SW 5 | S 15 | W 10 | E 4 | SE 5 | SW 14 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 7 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 109 | 30 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 69 | 31 | 14 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | W 8 | S 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 9 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 13 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | — | SSW 8 | SE 4 | — | W 7 | SW 7 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 1 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | W 10 | SW 15 | W 10 | W 9 | — | — | W 10 | SW 13 | W 9 | S 13 | S 13 | — | — | — | W 9 | E 3 | — | W 11 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 6 | NNW 3 | ENE 4 | E 5 | — | ENE 4 | SE 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSW 3 | S 4 | S 4 | — | — | SE 3 | NW 3 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 1 | 21 | 15 | — | 1 | 5 | 9 | 114 | 353 | 396 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 25 | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 40 | 378 | 129 | 81 | 156 | 87 | 122 | 113 | 105 | 485 | 278 | 180 | 207 | 139 | 122 | 188 | 141 | 30 | 29 | 486 | 482 |
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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