Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, E swell with 966 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me level with you. I've had a good look at what's coming down the pipe for Paignton over the next couple of weeks, and to be honest, it’s a tough read. We're looking at a pretty bleak run of surf, with a big, empty gap in the middle. There's nothing here that’s a standout on any given day, and the water's doing something weird temperature-wise, so bear with me.
Right now, starting Sunday the 12th of July, the water temperature is a very unusual 67°F, which is a massive 7°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that's a proper anomaly. But you won't want to be in it for the waves. We've got an easterly swell pushing in at 5ft, but it's a weak 6-second period and coming straight from the east, which is cross-on at Paignton. The wind is howling from the ENE at 19 mph, making it fresh cross-onshore and lumpy. The wave energy is only moderate at 213. This is just messy, poor surf.
Monday the 13th sees a bit more size, with the swell hitting 8ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, coming from the east with an 8-second period. Wave energy jumps way up to 809 in the morning, so there's power. But again, the east wind is creating a cross-on mess. At 8ft, that's getting too big for beginners and into expert-only territory if it wasn't so lumpy. It's a sloppy, blown-out situation.
Tuesday the 14th drops back to 5ft, but it's the same story – cross-on wind, choppy conditions. By the afternoon, the swell fades to 3ft with a weak 6-second period, and even less energy at 76. Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th are just small, weak, and choppy. Friday the 17th through to Sunday the 27th of July is a dead zone. For almost a week and a half, there is no swell height recorded, just blank zeroes. The wind goes offshore or glassy, but with no waves to push, it's flat, flat, flat. The "clean" wind descriptions don't matter when there's nothing to ride.
There is a little flicker of life on Monday the 21st of July, where we see 4ft of easterly swell with a 6-second period and moderate energy of 113. The wind is onshore from the ESE at 9 mph. It's still not good. The following days have tiny bits of swell, but the quality is always listed as "poor surf conditions." This is a long, quiet period for Paignton. No standouts, no call to action. Just a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Sun night, light winds from the NNE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SW 3 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 11 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 213 | 269 | 618 | 809 | 410 | 303 | 240 | 76 | 18 | 94 | 52 | 54 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:40PM3.34m | 6:17AM3.30m | 6:44PM3.61m | 7:17AM3.52m | 7:38PM3.87m | 8:08AM3.68m | 8:25PM4.06m | 8:54AM3.77m | 9:09PM4.13m | 9:37AM3.76m | 9:50PM4.09m | 10:18AM3.68m | 10:30PM3.93m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:46AM0.64m | 11:21PM0.53m | 11:43AM0.45m | 00:16AM0.28m | 12:34PM0.27m | 1:06AM0.08m | 1:21PM0.15m | 1:53AM-0.04m | 2:06PM0.10m | 2:37AM-0.06m | 2:49PM0.13m | 3:20AM0.02m | 3:31PM0.26m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | |  | |
 | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:16 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 24 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 16 | — | S 19 | S 19 | S 14 | SW 7 | E 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | E 6 | SW 6 | E 5 | E 5 | SW 7 | SW 6 | S 12 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 5 |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 76 | 1 | 2 | 52 | 1 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | S 18 | SW 6 | W 10 | S 16 | SW 6 | W 9 | SW 7 | S 14 | — | S 12 | SW 12 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 6 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 15 | — | W 12 | S 18 | S 14 | W 10 | S 16 | S 13 | S 14 | SW 12 | — | S 12 | W 6 | S 11 | — | SW 11 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | — | E 5 | E 6 | — | E 6 | — | SW 7 | SW 5 | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 213 | 269 | 618 | 809 | 410 | 303 | 240 | — | 18 | 94 | — | 54 | — | 24 | 11 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 105 | 280 | 276 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 87 | 87 | 105 | 132 | 87 | 103 | 113 | 113 | 40 | 378 | 113 | 156 | 499 | 1251 | 482 |
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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