
Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 6s period, E swell with 15 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about Paignton. Honestly, it’s a tough run ahead. The whole 16-day window looks mostly flat, with only a few scraps of swell that are barely worth paddling out for. The water’s sitting at 67°F which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a treat if you’re just floating around, but the waves just aren’t showing up.
We start off Tuesday 28 July with nothing – zero energy. Wednesday and Thursday follow the same pattern. Friday 31 July finally brings a whisper of a swell, 0.7ft from the NNE with a period of only 3 seconds. That’s basically wind bump, not surf. The combined energy is just 1 – weak as anything. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s messy. Saturday 1 August is the same story: 0.7ft from the NNE, 3 seconds, energy of 1. Light cross-shore breeze. It’s not surfable.
Sunday 2 August sees a tiny bump to 2ft from the ENE, but still only 4 seconds period and combined energy of 9. The wind is moderate cross-onshore, making it choppy and poor. Monday 3 August offers 1ft from the E with a 6 second period, energy of 11. Light cross-shore, but still just poor surf.
Then from Tuesday 4 August through to Monday 10 August, it’s back to zero – a full week of nothing on offer. A long, dry spell.
Around Tuesday 11 August, we get another small pulse: 2ft from the N, period of 3 seconds, energy of 5. The wind goes light offshore, so it’s clean, but that’s a tiny, weak, short-period wave. Not worth getting excited about. Wednesday 12 August has 1ft from the NE with a 5 second period and energy of 10, but moderate cross-shore wind makes it choppy.
So, what’s the standout? Honestly, there isn’t a true standout. The best on offer is a toss-up between the early morning of Monday 3 August or Tuesday 11 August – both with light winds and tiny clean waves. But if I had to pick one, I’d say Tuesday 11 August morning. The 2ft from the N with a light offshore wind from the WSW gives you the cleanest conditions of the whole period. But it’s only for experts in the sense that it’s so small and weak, it’s barely a wave. Beginners won’t get hurt, but they won’t get a ride either.
Crowds at Paignton are sometimes an issue, but with this lack of swell, you’ll probably have it to yourself. This is a beach break, and with such short-period, tiny swell, it’s not going to offer much shape. The setup looks more interesting for a paddleboard or a swim than a surf.
Overall, it’s a poor outlook. The long gap with no surf from 4 August to 10 August is a real bummer, and the rest is just scraps. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, I’d leave the board at home.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | WSW 3 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 3 | NNE 3 | W 12 | N 2 | NNE 3 | W 9 | N 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 3 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 2 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:13PM3.31m | 7:35AM3.18m | 7:48PM3.53m | 8:09AM3.35m | 8:21PM3.71m | 8:42AM3.47m | 8:54PM3.82m | 9:15AM3.55m | 9:25PM3.86m | 9:47AM3.57m | 9:57PM3.83m | 10:20AM3.55m | 10:29PM3.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:17PM0.84m | 00:45AM0.70m | 12:53PM0.64m | 1:19AM0.50m | 1:26PM0.47m | 1:52AM0.33m | 1:58PM0.34m | 2:23AM0.20m | 2:30PM0.26m | 2:55AM0.12m | 3:03PM0.23m | 3:28AM0.10m | 3:39PM0.26m | ||||||||
5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | WSW 4 | W 10 | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | ENE 4 | E 3 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 |
1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | — | — | W 10 | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | — | W 10 | — | — | — | W 8 | SW 9 | WSW 8 | E 5 | — |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 7 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | — | WSW 2 | N 3 | NNE 3 | SW 2 | N 2 | NNE 3 | SW 2 | N 3 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 8 |
— | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | — | — | — | 8 | 82 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 105 | 119 | 105 | 138 | 193 | 193 | 778 | 279 | 129 | 132 | 280 | 280 | 137 | 156 | 87 | 156 | 98 | 84 | 88 | 104 | 64 |
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.










