
Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 4s period, SE swell with 6 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.5m 4s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be honest with you right off the bat: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and bleak for Paignton. There’s no surf on offer right now, and it’s going to stay that way for a while. We’re looking at a solid gap of about a week with absolutely nothing rideable. It’s a tough stretch, but that’s the way the ocean’s working right now.
The first sign of anything shows up on the morning of Saturday the 13th. It’s small – just a 1ft swell coming out of the SSE with a short, weak 3-second period. The energy is basically nothing, sitting at a paltry 4 (weak energy). It’s not going to be pretty, and the light cross-onshore wind won’t do it any favors. This is strictly one for the most optimistic of souls, and even then, it’s a stretch. By the afternoon, it nudges up a touch to 2ft from the SE, but the period is still a weak 4 seconds with light cross-onshore wind. It's still not good.
We get a slight improvement on Sunday the 14th. The morning brings a clean, glassy surface with a 2ft SSE swell, but again, it's got that short 4-second period. The energy is building a little at 16 (weak energy), but it’s still just ankle-biters. The afternoon turns a bit more cross-off with a 1ft easterly bump, but it’s still tiny and weak.
The flat spell returns for a few days after that, with a whole lot of nothing from the 15th through the 17th. You’re better off finding something else to do.
Then, for the final weekend of the period, things finally start to look a little more interesting. On Saturday the 19th, we see the best conditions of the entire run. The morning is absolutely glassy with a 2ft swell from the E, and a period that stretches out to 5 seconds. The energy is the highest we’ve seen all run, at 29 (weak energy). It’s still not big, but that clean surface makes it the standout. The afternoon keeps the 2ft E swell and the period at 5 seconds, but the wind swings a bit cross-shore, so the morning is definitely the pick.
Sunday the 20th sees a drop back to a 1ft E swell with that short 4-second period. The energy fades back to 4 (weak energy), and it’s a step back down from the day before. It looks like a fade-out to end the run.
So, to wrap it up: it’s a long, flat stretch ahead. The one true standout is the glassy morning session on Saturday the 19th. It won’t be big, but it’ll be clean. The water might be a touch warmer than average for this time of year, which is a small comfort when you’re staring at a flat ocean.
This is Rusty, signing off. We’ll get some waves eventually.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 7 | S 13 | S 13 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SW 17 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 4 | SW 8 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 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 | glassy | cross-on | cross | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:56AM3.56m | 7:10PM3.91m | 7:36AM3.78m | 7:48PM4.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:13PM0.37m | 00:41AM0.07m | 12:53PM0.13m | 1:17AM-0.10m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | W 12 | SW 7 | W 7 | SE 4 | SSE 3 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 5 | WSW 10 | SSW 5 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | W 7 | SW 8 | SW 7 | SW 8 | SW 8 |
5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 80 | 56 | 27 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 22 | 28 | 15 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | S 13 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | — | SSW 4 | — | — | WSW 11 | — | WSW 10 | — | — | SW 6 | — | W 11 | W 10 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | — |
2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 22 | — | 9 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | — | S 13 | S 13 | — | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | — | — |
4 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 2 | — | SE 3 | — | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | NW 2 | WNW 2 | WSW 3 | — | SW 2 | SSW 4 | S 4 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | NW 2 |
— | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 9 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 17 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 104 | 29 | 126 | 126 | 92 | 130 | 64 | 180 | 29 | 112 | 29 | 40 | 170 | 81 | 40 | 92 | 83 | 246 | 246 | 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.










