Surf Forecasts:
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 Type | Time (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 ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly 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 | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | ESE 4 | W 12 | W 9 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | W 10 | E 5 | N 3 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 4 | W 8 | WSW 3 | W 3 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 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) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — |
 | — | — | 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 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 4 | — | — | E 5 | ESE 4 | — | — | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | — | E 5 | — | W 9 | E 5 | E 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | 25 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 11 | 3 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 5 | — | W 11 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | E 5 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | — | W 9 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | — | — | — | W 7 | W 12 | — | W 11 | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | — | E 4 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | WSW 3 | W 3 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 3 | 21 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 10 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 515 | 529 | 81 | 482 | 401 | 412 | 156 | 156 | 252 | 105 | 135 | 321 | 482 | 668 | 252 | 87 | 422 | 409 | 460 | 852 | 378 |
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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