Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, switching to feet and miles. Let’s be straight with you – this forecast for Paignton is a tough one. We’re looking at a 16-day window with virtually no rideable surf on offer. The first weak little bump doesn’t show up until Sunday the 9th of August, and even that’s only 0.7 ft with a short period of 2 seconds, and light cross-onshore winds. It’s basically wind chop. The water temperature is sitting around average for this time of year, which is a small comfort, but there’s just no energy in the water.

From the 9th right through to the 21st of August, the combined energy of all swells directed here barely climbs out of single digits – the highest I see is a paltry 51 (weak energy) on the morning of Wednesday the 12th of August. That morning, we get a tiny 3 ft swell from the east with a 6-second period, but the wave comment says “poor surf conditions” and the score backs that up. The wind is a light offshore from the west, which would keep it clean, but the swell is just too small and weak to push anything worthwhile. The afternoon of the 12th picks up a moderate breeze from the west-southwest, still clean, but the swell drops to 2 ft.

The rest of the window is a string of zeros. Even when the wind goes glassy, like the morning of Friday the 7th of August, there’s absolutely no swell. You’ll see a few afternoons with clean offshore winds, like the 14th and 20th of August, but again – no wave height. It’s a blank run that stretches for days at a time.

Here’s the honest truth: there’s no standout day, no hidden gem. This is a classic case of a flat spell for this area. The best you can hope for is a longboard and a prayer on the 12th of August morning, but don’t expect much. The break itself is a beginner spot, inconsistent, and when it’s this flat, even the kites are going to struggle. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d say leave the board in the car.

Rusty.

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