Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 5s period, E swell with 7 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.4m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim on the surf front for our stretch of coast. If you’re jonesing for a wave, you’re going to need some patience.
Right out of the gate, Thursday morning (August 27th) at Paignton has a little pulse—about 3 ft of swell coming from the southeast with a period of only 5 seconds. That’s super short period, and the energy’s weak at 36, so it's going to be a lumpy, messy thing at best. A 12 mph cross-offshore wind from the southwest will keep the surface tidy, but there’s just no power behind it. The water is a balmy 66.6°F which is a full 4.7°F warmer than usual for this time of year—that’s way out of the ordinary, and it feels like a bathtub.
The truth is, that’s the only real surf we see for a long stretch. After that, it's a total flat spell from Friday the 28th all the way through until the morning of Wednesday, September 9th. That’s a solid week and a half with nothing. Nada. Zip. You’ll see plenty of clean, blown-out conditions with offshores, but no waves to ride. It’s going to be a long wait.
Now, when we finally do get something, it’s not much to holler about. On the morning of Wednesday, September 9th, a weak, short-period swell from the northeast rolls in at 4 ft with a 5-second period. The energy is still weak at 68. There’s a moderate offshore wind from the west making it glassy, but that tiny period means it'll be a soft, bumpy closeout, not the clean, lined-up waves you're after. The afternoon bumps up slightly to 3.6 ft from the east-northeast (also short period), but there's a risk of thunderstorms and the conditions are just ordinary. It’s surfable, but you’d be scratching for a corner.
That’s it. That’s the whole window. We don’t even get a proper long-period groundswell to make things interesting. The one standout, if you can even call it that, is that Wednesday the 9th. The wind is offshore and it’s the only day with any real size on offer, but the energy is weak and the swell direction is far from the optimum easterly the spot likes. I’d call it a last resort, not a target. You’re better off waiting for things to change. Forecasts shift, and this dead run can't last forever.
Stay patient.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Thu night, strong winds from the WSW by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 5 | E 5 | E 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 10 | SW 4 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 5 | S 16 | SW 3 | S 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 36 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 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 | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:51AM3.76m | 10:03PM3.83m | 10:24AM3.63m | 10:39PM3.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:16PM0.02m | 3:38AM0.01m | 3:54PM0.17m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | E 5 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | SW 7 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 5 | SW 5 | S 15 | S 15 |
| kJ | 36 | 7 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 7 | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | W 8 | — | W 9 | — | — | W 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | — | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | S 4 | — | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SW 8 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 10 | SW 4 | — | SW 6 | SW 5 | W 3 | — | SW 3 | WSW 2 |
| kJ | 1 | 9 | — | 22 | 96 | 98 | 127 | 326 | 170 | 31 | 65 | 183 | 283 | 30 | — | 13 | 8 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 138 | 113 | 193 | 296 | 166 | 313 | 274 | 64 | 166 | 279 | 163 | 131 | 251 | 92 | 246 | 774 | 193 | 30 | 162 | 442 |
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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