Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, E swell with 413 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Text Two: Imperial
Alright crew, let’s talk straight about what’s coming down the line for Paignton. And the first thing to say is, you’re gonna need some patience.
We’ve got a long, dry spell of nothing to start. From Wednesday the 19th, it’s flat, dead, and poor. You’re staring at a gap with no surf worth paddling for right up until Saturday morning the 22nd of August. The water’s sitting at a very warm 68°, which is over 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s really unusual.
So, Saturday morning the 22nd. We finally get a pulse, but it’s a weak one. It’s a piddly 2ft from the ENE with a period of only 4 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 8 (8). The wind is onshore, so it’ll be bumpy. If you’re a learner and you have absolutely nothing else to do, you might find a shorebreak to splash in. That’s it.
Monday the 24th brings a bit more size. The morning has 3ft from the East, but a 22 mph onshore wind will ruin it. The afternoon pushes up to 6ft from the East, period of 6 seconds, and the energy hits 212 (212) – moderate energy. But that strong breeze turns the surface into a full-on chop fest. For almost anyone, that’s a no-go.
Your best chance, and I use that term loosely, comes on Tuesday the 25th. You’ve got 5ft from the East with a 7-second period and energy of 193 (193). It’s onshore in the morning with rain. But the afternoon improves a bit, with the wind dropping to a gentle 9 mph from the ESE, making it cross-onshore. It’ll still be choppy, but you might scratch into a few lumpy, soft ones.
After that, it’s a ghost town again. From Wednesday the 26th all the way through Thursday the 3rd of September, there’s no swell to speak of. You get some afternoons with clean, offshore winds, but with zero energy in the water, Paignton will be as flat as a millpond.
There’s no true standout session here. The most you can hope for is the afternoon of Tuesday the 25th, but it’s a long way off and the quality is poor. The combo of weak, short-period swell and messy winds is a tough sell. For anyone who’s not a total beginner, there’s just nothing to get excited about. Sometimes the ocean just doesn’t play ball.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Sun night, strong winds from the E by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 3 | WSW 3 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | N 3 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 3 | SE 4 | E 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SSE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 187 | 403 | 297 | 88 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 11:54AM2.97m | 00:10AM2.82m | 12:36PM2.74m | 00:59AM2.56m | 1:38PM2.55m | 2:18AM2.39m | 3:26PM2.50m | 4:39AM2.44m | 5:20PM2.72m | 5:54AM2.70m | 6:12PM3.04m | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:12AM0.92m | 5:32PM1.13m | 5:53AM1.24m | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:03AM1.52m | 8:30PM1.62m | 9:18AM1.58m | 10:16PM1.49m | 10:35AM1.39m | 11:13PM1.23m | 11:24AM1.13m | 11:53PM0.94m | 12:01PM0.85m | 00:27AM0.64m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | |  | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | SW 6 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | SW 5 | W 10 | W 10 | E 4 | S 14 | SW 14 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | E 5 | SE 5 | — | SE 4 | SW 8 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 6 | — | 5 | 46 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | S 13 | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | SW 15 | SE 5 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 13 | S 11 | SW 8 | E 5 | — | W 9 | W 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 8 | 3 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | 1 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | SW 14 | — | S 13 | S 13 | — | S 12 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | — | — | W 13 | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 8 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | N 3 | ENE 4 | E 4 | — | ENE 3 | SE 4 | E 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | — | SW 5 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 13 | 12 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 17 | 13 | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 187 | 403 | 297 | 88 | — | 74 | 122 | 158 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 515 | 193 | 29 | 40 | 150 | 40 | 81 | 98 | 87 | 122 | 135 | 87 | 347 | 192 | 207 | 150 | 119 | 105 | 150 | 126 | 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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