Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, E swell with 356 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me level with you. Normally I’d be buzzing to talk about the surf, but right now, this stretch of the coast is looking pretty flat and lifeless. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, and truth be told, there’s almost nothing worth paddling out for. It’s a real bummer.
The water temperature is sitting at 67°F right now, which is a good 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s properly unusual, feels more like a warm bath than the English Channel. But all that warm water isn’t bringing any swell with it.
From Thursday 20th August right through to the end of the month, we’re scraping the barrel. The best we see is a pulse of easterly swell on Monday 24th August, showing 5ft to 7ft with a short, weak period of 6 to 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 141 to 356 (moderate), but the wind is howling straight onshore from the east at 22 mph, making a mess of anything that tries to break. That’s not surfable – that’s a washing machine. For the more advanced crew, this is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.
After that, it’s back to zero swell for days. There’s a long gap from the 25th of August all the way to the 1st of September with barely a ripple. We do get a bit of cross-offshore wind towards the end of the month, but with no waves, clean conditions don’t mean a thing.
The only spot on the radar is Paignton. It’s rated beginner-friendly, but it’s inconsistent and rarely breaks, and right now it’s not breaking at all. The optimum swell direction is east, but the few scraps of east swell we see are too small, too short-period, and blown out by onshore winds.
Honestly, this is a blank run. The surf is poor across the board. Forecasts can change, but for now, leave the board in the shed and go do something else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon morning, light winds from the E by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 10 | NE 3 | ENE 4 | S 16 | ENE 4 | E 5 | ESE 4 | ENE 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | SSE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 141 | 356 | 331 | 71 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:54AM2.70m | 6:12PM3.04m | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:24AM1.13m | 11:53PM0.94m | 12:01PM0.85m | 00:27AM0.64m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | ENE 4 | SW 5 | W 8 | E 5 | ESE 4 | S 14 | SW 14 | SE 4 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | E 5 | SW 8 | — | SSW 8 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 11 | — | 117 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | WSW 8 | — | S 15 | W 10 | SW 15 | — | W 12 | SW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 8 | E 4 | — | SE 5 | SW 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | — | 4 | 2 | 8 | — | 3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 11 | 53 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | — | S 15 | W 10 | — | W 9 | S 14 | W 10 | — | W 9 | S 13 | S 10 | W 8 | — | W 9 | W 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 25 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | NW 3 | NE 3 | — | — | ENE 4 | E 5 | — | ENE 3 | ESE 4 | NE 2 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | SSE 3 | S 3 | SSW 6 | — | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 9 | 13 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 25 | 28 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | 141 | 356 | 331 | 71 | 2 | 5 | 86 | — | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 515 | 193 | 29 | 40 | 40 | 85 | 81 | 98 | 87 | 119 | 122 | 120 | 485 | 180 | 265 | 122 | 119 | 87 | 141 | 92 | 91 |
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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