Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s not sugarcoat it – this is a tough stretch for Paignton. The whole 16-day outlook is basically a blank. No real surf to speak of. The energy is flat, the swell is either missing or tiny, and when something does show up, the wind is usually in the wrong place. This kind of dry spell happens now and then, so don’t lose hope, but right now there’s nothing to get excited about.

The first little blip comes on Tuesday 11th August. We’re looking at a 2ft to 3ft easterly windswell with a period of only 3 to 5 seconds – that’s short and weak. The wind is onshore from the E or ESE at 12 mph, and the combined energy is a paltry 6 to 50. Not worth the walk to the beach.

Wednesday 12th August is similar: a 4ft easterly swell in the morning, period 6 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore from the ENE at 12 mph, making it choppy. Energy hits 92 – still weak. The afternoon drops to 3ft with onshore wind. No good.

Thursday 13th August morning is the best we’ve got. The swell is 3ft from the ESE, period 6 seconds, and the wind is glassy – light NNE at 3 mph. That’s clean, but the energy is only 40, and the wave comment says “poor surf conditions.” It’s tiny, inconsistent, and only for beginners on a soft top. The afternoon gets a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops to 2ft with energy down to 14. Not a standout, but if you’re keen, the morning glass might give you a few knee-high rollers.

From Friday 14th August through Sunday 23rd August, it’s mostly flat or near-flat. A few tiny bumps – 0.3ft to 2ft – show up on the 15th, 16th, and 17th, but the energy is below 30, and the winds are either onshore, cross-on, or glassy with nothing to ride. The afternoon of Monday 17th August has a 2ft easterly swell with a moderate offshore wind from the W at 16 mph – that’s clean, but it’s still tiny, with energy at 29. A micro-session for the dedicated.

Tuesday 18th August sees a 0.7ft easterly swell in the morning with offshore wind, but it’s effectively flat. From the 19th onward, it’s all zeros – no swell, no energy, just clean or glassy conditions with nothing to surf. This carries right through to the 25th of August.

The water temperature is 66°F, which is 4°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s notably warm, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re staring at a flat ocean.

Bottom line: Paignton has no good surf options in this 16-day window. It’s a flat spell, pure and simple. Keep an eye on things – it doesn’t usually stay this poor for long, and forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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