Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 10PM.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m gonna be straight with you, folks. This is Rusty, and I’ve got the latest outlook for the Paignton area. Let’s be honest, it’s a tough one out there for the next couple of weeks.
For the first week and a half, we are looking at a real flat spell. There’s essentially no surf to speak of from now all the way through to the 7th of September. The water is sitting at 67° which is a good 5° warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s much warmer than average, but that doesn’t help when there’s no waves. The wind is often offshore or cross-offshore, which would be perfect for clean conditions, but with no swell, it’s just a glassy, flat lake out there.
We finally get a pulse of energy rolling in on the morning of the 8th of September. It’s tiny, with a 1 ft swell from the east, but the winds are fresh offshore from the west, keeping it clean. The energy is weak (2). By the afternoon of the 8th, we’re up to a 2 ft east swell, still weak (10).
The best chance of a proper wave comes on the 9th of September. Wednesday morning we see a 4 ft east swell with a period of 6 seconds, pushing the combined energy to a moderate 102. The wind is a moderate offshore from the WNW, so the conditions will be clean. The afternoon holds a similar 4 ft east swell (75 energy). It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s the only window of surfable, ordinary waves in the whole 16-day outlook. For a beginner break that’s inconsistent and sometimes busy, that’s a small window of opportunity if you’re desperate.
After that, it’s back to flat and poor conditions. The 10th of September has a tiny 3 ft and 1 ft east swell but with cross-onshore and cross-shore winds, making it choppy and messy. Then from the 11th through to the 13th, we’re back to zero swell and clean but empty seas.
So, the standout – and I use that term loosely – is the 9th of September. If you’re paddling out, hit the morning session for the 4 ft east swell with clean offshore wind. It’s small, short-period, and ordinary, but it’s the only game in town.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun night, light winds from the W by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue night, strong winds from the W by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SW 5 | SW 7 | SW 10 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | W 13 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 8:47AM3.79m | 8:57PM4.01m | 9:18AM3.82m | 9:29PM3.96m | 9:51AM3.76m | 10:03PM3.83m | 10:24AM3.63m | 10:39PM3.61m | 11:02AM3.43m | 11:20PM3.33m | 11:47AM3.19m | 00:14AM3.02m | 12:49PM2.94m | 1:32AM2.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:08PM0.02m | 2:29AM-0.13m | 2:41PM-0.03m | 3:02AM-0.12m | 3:16PM0.02m | 3:38AM0.01m | 3:54PM0.17m | 4:16AM0.24m | 4:36PM0.43m | 5:00AM0.57m | 5:26PM0.77m | 5:55AM0.94m | 6:37PM1.11m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — |
mm | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | — | — | SW 10 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | W 9 | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | WSW 11 | W 13 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 15 | — | — | 141 | 29 | 12 | 6 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | — | — | — | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 10 | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | W 8 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | 13 | — | — | — | 35 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WNW 4 | WNW 3 | — | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 |
| kJ | 15 | 107 | 242 | 10 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 3 | 29 | 55 | 66 | 63 | 43 | 21 | 24 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 279 | 547 | 163 | 44 | 115 | 29 | 30 | 170 | 193 | 296 | 180 | 251 | 64 | 64 | 774 | 515 | 246 | 245 | 29 | 56 | 30 |
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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