Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, E swell with 539 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it.
Honestly, mate, the next couple of weeks are a tough watch for Paignton. The whole 16-day window is a write-off. There’s not a single decent surf session on offer, so we’re looking at a long, blank run right through to the 6th of September. The first record starts on the 22nd of August, but it’s tiny and messy from the get-go.
Right off the bat, the water’s sitting at 67°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a warm bath out there, but there’s no waves to enjoy it in.
We start with tiny dribble on Saturday the 22nd – just 2ft of weak 4-second easterly slop (energy 9) with a light cross-on. Not worth getting wet. Sunday the 23rd is even worse, with a 0.7ft and 2ft blip, but still poor quality and onshore. Monday the 24th sees the swell jump to 7ft and 8ft from the east with a 7-second period, and the energy hits 378 then 539 – so there’s moderate wave power there. But with a fresh 22 mph onshore wind screaming in, it’ll be a blown-out, ugly mess. Too big for beginners, and even for experienced surfers, it’s just a washing machine.
Tuesday the 25th drops back to 5ft and 4ft, but it’s still cross-on and choppy. After that, the swell just fades away. From Wednesday the 26th onwards, we’re looking at tiny numbers – 1ft and 1.0ft – with no push. The combined energy drops into single digits (8, 3, 4…). Then from Friday the 28th all the way to Sunday the 6th of September, the swell flatlines completely – zero energy. The wind does go offshore and clean a lot of that time, which is fair, but with no swell, it’s just a flat lake out there.
Bottom line: if you want to surf, this isn’t the place. It’s actually better for kitesurfing if the wind holds, because that onshore burst early in the week and the consistent offshore later on would be more fun on a kite than a paddle board. This kind of blank run? It’s a bit more normal for the area, but forecasts can change, and it won’t stay poor forever.
Stay tuned, but for now, leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Tue night, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 4 | E 4 | ENE 2 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | S 5 | SSW 9 | S 5 | SW 8 | SW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 36 | 378 | 539 | 384 | 229 | 102 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 2:18AM2.39m | 3:26PM2.50m | 4:39AM2.44m | 5:20PM2.72m | 5:54AM2.70m | 6:12PM3.04m | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | 7:11AM3.27m | 7:22PM3.63m | 7:43AM3.50m | 7:54PM3.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:33PM0.58m | 00:58AM0.36m | 1:05PM0.34m | 1:28AM0.13m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | E 4 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 9 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | SW 6 | E 4 | SW 8 | WSW 10 | SW 8 | SSE 5 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 9 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 77 | 73 | 24 | 42 | 6 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | S 15 | — | W 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | — | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 4 | W 8 | SW 9 | E 5 | — | WSW 8 | SW 8 | — |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 14 | 66 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | W 10 | SW 14 | W 10 | — | W 10 | W 9 | SW 13 | W 11 | S 13 | — | W 9 | SW 7 | S 12 | S 12 | W 14 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 2 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | — | — | — | E 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 9 | S 5 | — | SW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 14 | 36 | 378 | 539 | 384 | 229 | 102 | — | — | — | 9 | 51 | 32 | 154 | 37 | — | 138 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 156 | 135 | 87 | 98 | 87 | 482 | 193 | 180 | 105 | 81 | 105 | 119 | 171 | 105 | 203 | 64 | 83 | 64 | 271 | 494 |
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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