Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, ESE swell with 37 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
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 next couple of weeks are looking flat as a millpond around these parts. I’ve scanned the whole 16-day window, and there’s just nothing doing for a surf. Not a wave worth paddling for.
We’re looking at a stretch of nothing but poor surf conditions, day after day. It’s a tough run, especially after the warm water we’ve got right now. That water’s sitting at 67°, which is a good few degrees warmer than usual for this time of year – makes you want to be in it, but there’s no push to ride. The first few days have a bit of offshore breeze, which would have been nice if there was any swell to go with it. We've got some light winds and even some glassy moments on the 24th, but it’s all for nothing with a flat ocean. Later in the week, we see some tiny, weak, short-period windswell trying to show up, but it’s barely a ripple and the winds are all over the place – onshore, cross, light – never lining up to give us anything rideable.
This is a long stretch of nothing. From the 18th of August right through to the 2nd of September, there is not a single window that gets the nod. We’re talking over two weeks with no recommendations. That’s a proper blank run, and for this area, it’s just one of those times where you gotta find something else to do. The forecast can always change, but as it stands, the surfboard stays in the car.
Being honest, even the breaks that are usually a bit more reliable are showing nothing. There’s no point even naming names when there’s zero swell on the cards. The energy readings are all either zero or in the low single digits, which is about as weak as it gets. A couple of times we see a reading of 18 or even 6 on the 21st, but those are from 3 to 5 second windswell bumps, and with the wind directions all over the shop, it’s not going to be anything but a messy, gutless closeout.
So, there you have it. A frustrating, flat outlook for the next couple of weeks. Hang loose, keep an eye on the charts, and hopefully, we get a pulse of something real before too long. If the wind stays clean like it does on a few of these days and any swell shows up, we might get lucky, but don’t hold your breath just yet.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 3 | S 17 | S 16 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 10 | NE 3 | ENE 4 | E 4 | NNE 3 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 6 | E 5 | N 2 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:01PM3.41m | 11:21AM3.22m | 11:33PM3.11m | 11:54AM2.97m | 00:10AM2.82m | 12:36PM2.74m | 00:59AM2.56m | 1:38PM2.55m | 2:18AM2.39m | 3:26PM2.50m | 4:39AM2.44m | 5:20PM2.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:17PM0.52m | 4:37AM0.60m | 4:53PM0.82m | 5:12AM0.92m | 5:32PM1.13m | 5:53AM1.24m | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:03AM1.52m | 8:30PM1.62m | 9:18AM1.58m | 10:16PM1.49m | 10:35AM1.39m | 11:13PM1.23m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 17 | W 7 | S 16 | S 15 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | ENE 4 | E 4 | — | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 6 | E 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | S 16 | — | W 10 | S 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | — | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 5 | — | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 16 | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | S 14 | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | NW 3 | NE 3 | — | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | — | — | NNE 2 | — | N 2 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 10 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 193 | 136 | 40 | 193 | 176 | 159 | 156 | 29 | 81 | 40 | 279 | 289 | 245 | 40 | 40 | 486 | 320 | 441 | 486 | 135 |
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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