Paignton Surf Break

Lat Long: 50.43° N 3.56° W

Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Paignton sea temperature is
19.4° C
3.4° 

Paignton surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Paignton surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, E swell with 32 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.8m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 19th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 5s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, mate, let’s have a proper look at what’s on offer for Paignton over the next couple of weeks. Straight up – it’s bleak. There’s not a single session worth paddling out for in the whole 16-day window. Every single forecast window shows poor surf conditions, and the score is zero across the board. That’s a long stretch of nothing.

The first record lands on Saturday 18 July, but we’ve got a tiny 1.3ft of NE windswell with a pathetic 3-second period and a cross-onshore breeze. Choppy, weak, no energy – total write-off. The water temp is a balmy 67°F, which is a whopping 6°F above the norm for this time of year – very unusual, almost like a warm bath – but that doesn’t help the waves.

From Saturday 18 July all the way through to the end of the month, it’s essentially flat. Sunday 19 July has a feeble 2.6ft from the east, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy is in the 20–25 range – that’s weak. Monday 20 July and Tuesday 21 July are dead – zero swell. Wednesday 22 July has a tiny 0.3ft. The rest of the week through to Friday 24 July and the weekend of 25–26 July shows nothing but zeros across the board. The wind is mostly offshore or cross-offshore, but with no swell, it’s just a glassy lake.

Then around Thursday 30 July, we get a little pulse: 2.3ft in the morning, and by the afternoon it jumps to 4.9ft from the east with a 6-second period. The combined energy climbs to 160 – that’s moderate. But the wind is cross-onshore, light, but still ruining the surface. The wave comment still says “poor surf conditions”. Friday 31 July sees the biggest swell of the period: 5.6ft from the east, 7-second period, energy at 270 – moderate to strong. But again, cross-onshore wind, fresh breeze, lumpy. Not a clean wave in sight. The following days, Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August, drop back to 3.6ft and 2.3ft with onshore or cross-off winds, but still poor.

Honestly, this stretch of flatness is pretty typical for Paignton. It’s an inconsistent spot that rarely breaks, so we’re not surprised. The only faint glimmer is that 4.9ft–5.6ft pulse at the end of July, but the wind direction kills it – cross-onshore the whole time, and the period is short, so it’s choppy and messy. For a beginner spot like this, anything over 5ft is already too big for learners, and the wind is all wrong. If you’re a kite surfer, the stronger cross

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
3
0.3
E
4
0.3
E
4
0.8
E
4
0.7
E
5
0.3
ESE
4
0.1
W
12
0.1
W
9
0.3
E
4
0.2
E
4
0.2
E
5
0.2
E
4
0.1
W
10
0.1
E
5
0.5
N
3
0.4
ENE
4
0.5
E
5
0.3
E
4
0.1
W
8
0.7
WSW
3
0.6
W
3
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2
2
3
21
25
4
0
0
3
1
2
1
0
1
5
5
11
3
0
0
0
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
15
SSW
20
NE
20
ENE
15
SE
10
N
15
E
20
S
15
NNW
20
E
15
SSE
10
NW
10
N
10
NW
15
N
15
E
20
SSW
10
NW
15
SW
20
WSW
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
on
cross
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
10:18AM3.68m
10:30PM3.93m
10:57AM3.53m
11:07PM3.70m
11:34AM3.33m
11:44PM3.41m
12:11PM3.13m
00:21AM3.12m
12:50PM2.93m
1:02AM2.85m
1:36PM2.75m
1:54AM2.63m
2:38PM2.64m
3:12AM2.51m
Low Tide
3:31PM0.26m
4:02AM0.18m
4:12PM0.46m
4:43AM0.42m
4:55PM0.70m
5:25AM0.69m
5:40PM0.97m
6:11AM0.97m
6:35PM1.23m
7:11AM1.21m
7:53PM1.41m
8:31AM1.36m
9:21PM1.44m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:22
5:22
5:24
5:26
5:26
5:28
5:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:16
9:15
9:15
9:14
9:12
9:10
9:09
 mm
Temp °C
22
24
21
17
20
20
19
23
20
20
24
22
23
25
19
20
24
21
24
25
18
Feels °C
20
22
19
13
16
19
16
19
18
18
22
20
20
23
15
18
21
19
19
21
16
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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