Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, E swell with 37 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.8m 5s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the outlook for the next sixteen days is a bit of a tough one. We’re looking at a long dry spell after a very brief, underwhelming window. Let’s break it down.
First up, we’ve got a little pulse on Tuesday, the 25th of August. Paignton will see some chest-high swell, around 5ft, coming out of the east. There’s a moderate amount of energy in the water (200). The problem is the wind is howling onshore from the ENE at 16 mph, which is gonna make it a bit of a choppy mess, honestly. The water is running much warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 67°F. That’s a solid 5°F above average, so you won’t need a thick suit. But the surf quality is just poor. The swell period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s weak, wind-affected slop.
That’s about it for the rideable stuff. From Wednesday the 26th of August all the way through to Wednesday the 9th of September, the wave heights either flatline or are far too small to bother with. The combined energy drops to zero or single digits. We’re talking a solid two-week gap of nothing. The wind does go offshore on a few days, like the 29th of August and the 31st of August, and even looks glassy on the 28th of August, but there’s simply no swell to push it around. It’s just flat.
So, what’s the best on offer? The only standout, and I use that term loosely, is that Tuesday morning session at Paignton. It’s the only time we’ve got any size at all. But with those onshore winds and the weak, short-period swell, it’s not what I’d call a great day. It’s a beginner-friendly height, but the conditions won’t make it easy. For the rest of the run, leave the boards in the car and maybe check the kite forecast because with the strong cross-off winds and no waves, that’s all you’ll be doing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 5 | E 5 | ESE 4 | E 4 | E 5 | S 5 | E 4 | SSW 7 | SW 4 | SW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | NE 3 | SE 4 | SW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 95 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:12PM3.04m | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | 7:11AM3.27m | 7:22PM3.63m | 7:43AM3.50m | 7:54PM3.84m | 8:15AM3.68m | 8:26PM3.97m | 8:47AM3.79m | 8:57PM4.01m | 9:18AM3.82m | 9:29PM3.96m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:53PM0.94m | 12:01PM0.85m | 00:27AM0.64m | 12:33PM0.58m | 00:58AM0.36m | 1:05PM0.34m | 1:28AM0.13m | 1:36PM0.15m | 1:58AM-0.04m | 2:08PM0.02m | 2:29AM-0.13m | 2:41PM-0.03m | 3:02AM-0.12m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | E 5 | E 5 | SSW 4 | SW 7 | S 5 | E 4 | SSE 4 | WSW 8 | W 9 | — | — | — | SSW 9 | SW 9 | WSW 8 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 |
| kJ | 7 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 14 | — | — | — | 202 | 88 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | — | E 5 | SW 8 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 11 | SE 4 | — |
| kJ | — | 10 | 6 | 2 | — | 7 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 7 | — | ENE 3 | W 11 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | SSW 4 | ESE 4 | E 4 | SW 4 | S 5 | SW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 4 | SW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | — | — | SSW 7 | — | NE 3 | — | — |
| kJ | 95 | — | 1 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 22 | 32 | 31 | 24 | 65 | 286 | 261 | — | — | 31 | — | 5 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 89 | 87 | 113 | 499 | 220 | 265 | 138 | 30 | 64 | 162 | 104 | 317 | 193 | 64 | 83 | 126 | 246 | 246 | 193 | 109 |
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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