Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, E swell with 69 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 1.0m 6s 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 0.8m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. There’s nothing worth paddling out for in the first two weeks of the forecast. We’ve got a solid ten-day gap with absolutely no surf on offer, from now until the 30th of August. The water temp at Paignton is sitting at 68°, which is a full 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, and while it might feel nice on the skin, the swell just isn’t playing ball.
We finally see a flicker of life on Thursday the 3rd of September. The afternoon brings a little 4ft swell from the southeast, with a short period of 5 seconds and a weak combined energy of just 62. Winds will be offshore from the WSW at 12 mph, which is clean, but honestly, the waves are small, weak, and on the messy side. The guidance calls this "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and I’d have to agree. Paignton (England) is a beginner-friendly spot, but this is more of a gentle splash than a proper surf. It’s inconsistent here, and with a rating of 2/5, it’s never going to be a standout.
So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there’s no true standout in this window. The only real option is that Thursday afternoon, 3rd September, at Paignton. The swell is tiny at 4ft from the southeast, and the wind is offshore, so it’ll be clean. But don’t get your hopes up – it’s a one-off blip in a long, flat spell.
If you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your moment. Otherwise, I’d give this one a miss. The area’s consistency is low, but a blank run like this is more normal for Paignton than you’d hope. Forecasts can change, though, so keep an eye out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the ENE by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 16 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 6 | WSW 10 | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | E 4 | ENE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ENE 3 | ESE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 45 | 43 | 23 | 8 | 2 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:21AM3.22m | 11:33PM3.11m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:53PM0.82m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | S 16 | S 15 | W 10 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | W 8 | W 10 | E 4 | S 14 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | S 14 | S 14 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 43 | 23 | 8 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | — | W 10 | S 14 | W 10 | WSW 10 | W 10 | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | SW 15 | W 9 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 14 | — | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | W 10 |
| kJ | 5 | — | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 2 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | W 10 | S 12 | W 10 | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | SW 13 | S 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 2 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | NW 3 | — | — | NNW 2 | — | — | — | ENE 3 | — | — | ENE 3 | ESE 5 | — | — | — | SW 3 |
| kJ | 1 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 6 | 45 | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 246 | 193 | 515 | 163 | 180 | 29 | 40 | 40 | 129 | 81 | 135 | 87 | 87 | 483 | 135 | 401 | 513 | 280 | 156 | 193 | 88 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Paignton surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest