Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got on the way.

Honestly, looking over the next 16 days for Paignton, I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak picture. We’re starting off with a real flat spell. From now through Thursday the 11th, there’s virtually nothing worth paddling out for. The water is sitting at 64°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight for a while. We see a few tiny ripples from the East on Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th, but with combined wave energy readings of just 4 and 43, that’s barely a bump.

There’s a bit more activity kicking off on Sunday the 12th, with the swell starting to build out of the East. By Sunday morning, we’re seeing 6 ft at 7 seconds and the combined energy climbs to 321 (moderate). But here’s the kicker – that East wind is howling onshore at 19 mph, making a mess of things. That lumpy, cross-onshore chop kills the quality.

Monday the 13th through Thursday the 16th sees the biggest waves of the window, with swell heights between 6 ft and 7 ft, and combined energy hitting 491 and 475. But it’s the same story: the wind is pinned onshore from the ENE or E, with speeds hitting 19 to 22 mph. The sets have a period of just 7 seconds, so it’s all windswell – short, choppy, and lacking that proper shape. Despite the size, the conditions are described as “fresh cross-onshore and lumpy” or “choppy.” This is one of those times where the setup honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, especially for a beach break like Paignton which is fairly exposed to that easterly direction.

Friday the 17th morning sees the biggest swell of the whole run – 10 ft from the East with combined energy of 979 (strong). That’s expert territory, and with the wind still cross-onshore and a period of only 8 seconds, it’s going to be a messy, powerful wall of whitewater. Not for the faint of heart.

After that, it quickly fades back to near-flat conditions from Saturday the 18th onward, with most days showing zero energy and mainly clean, offshore winds that are just waiting for a swell that never arrives.

So, to sum it up – there’s no standout session here. The best bet, if you’re desperate, would be to keep an eye on the afternoon of Friday the 17th when the wind swings to a light cross from the South, which might clean up the 6 ft sets a little, but that’s a long shot. If you’re looking for anything rideable, you’re better off waiting for the next weather system to shake things up. The forecasts can change, but right now, this is a real flat and windy period.

- Rusty

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