Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 4s period, SE swell with 18 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.7m 4s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright gang, Rusty here. Let me tell you, looking at the next couple of weeks out at Paignton, it’s about as dead as I’ve seen it. We are talking a massive gap of flatness – from now all the way through to the second week, there’s essentially no surf on the menu. The first fourteen days? All "poor surf conditions" and zero energy. Don’t even bother checking the tide charts.
The only thing worth your time is a tiny glimmer right at the end. Saturday morning, 5th September, the wind will go glassy with a light WNW breeze at just 3 mph. But with no swell, it’s all tease and no reward.
The one and only standout comes late. On Wednesday morning, 17th September, we’ll see a flare of NE groundswell around 3ft, with a period of 4 seconds, and the combined energy is weak (26). The wind will be a clean cross-off from the NW at 9 mph, keeping the surface looking decent. That morning of the 17th is your best window, and the afternoon holds similar conditions. It’s small, and honestly only for the beginners, but after a fortnight of nothing, it’s a welcome sight.
Water temp at the start of this forecast is 66°F, which is about 4°F warmer than usual for September. That’s notable – you won’t need a full winter suit.
This break is beginner-friendly but inconsistent. It only breaks rarely, and crowds are possible when a little swell shows. The swell direction is working off the NE and E, so the angles are narrow.
So there you have it. A whole lot of nothing, then one small, clean window on the 17th. Don’t let the long wait get you down.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Thu night, light winds from the NW by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | S 13 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:02AM3.43m | 11:20PM3.33m | 11:47AM3.19m | 00:14AM3.02m | 12:49PM2.94m | 1:32AM2.74m | 2:21PM2.80m | 3:26AM2.67m | 4:14PM2.93m | 5:08AM2.91m | 5:33PM3.27m | 6:10AM3.25m | 6:26PM3.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:36PM0.43m | 5:00AM0.57m | 5:26PM0.77m | 5:55AM0.94m | 6:37PM1.11m | 7:20AM1.24m | 8:31PM1.25m | 9:14AM1.26m | 10:11PM1.03m | 10:34AM1.00m | 11:13PM0.68m | 11:29AM0.67m | 00:00AM0.34m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 7 | W 12 | SW 7 | W 7 | ESE 4 | E 4 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | — | — | W 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 34 | 49 | 24 | 10 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 14 | W 10 | W 8 | W 11 | S 13 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 14 | W 10 | W 14 | SW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | — | W 17 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | W 3 | WNW 3 | — | SW 7 | — | SE 4 | S 4 | WSW 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | W 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 33 | 28 | 63 | 44 | 5 | 3 | — | 7 | — | 16 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 115 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 296 | 180 | 44 | 245 | 29 | 29 | 104 | 81 | 92 | 126 | 92 | 29 | 13 | 64 | 29 | 246 | 29 | 137 | 13 | 81 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Paignton surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest