
Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, E swell with 339 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4AM. 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 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a long, dry gap with nothing rideable for the first four days. The first few days of August are dead flat, with zero energy at Paignton. It’s a barren start, no two ways about it.
Finally, around Tuesday the 11th, we see a pulse of swell trying to push in. The wind is slamming out of the east at 15 mph, blowing straight onshore. That’s going to make a mess of things. The swell is a short-period, wind-driven 3ft to 5ft from the east, with a combined energy that climbs from 45 up to 139 (moderate). The conditions are poor, so this isn’t a day for a paddle – it looks more like a kite session if you’re into that.
Wednesday the 12th is much the same story. The morning holds some energy at 4ft, combined energy of 144 (moderate), but it’s still onshore wind from the east at 15 mph. By the afternoon, the swell drops right off to 2ft and the energy falls to 30 (weak). No good.
From Thursday the 13th onward, we’re back to flatness. The 13th has a tiny 0.7ft bump with a combined energy of only 2 (weak), but it’s clean with a light cross-offshore breeze. Still, there’s just nothing to ride. The rest of the 14th, 15th, 16th, and all the way through to the 22nd show nothing but dashes for swell height and zeros for energy. The winds are all over the place, sometimes glassy, sometimes clean, but it doesn’t matter because there’s no wave to catch.
The best you can hope for is a glassy, flat morning on the 17th or 18th if you just want to sit on the water. But for actual surfing? The whole 16-day window is a write-off for Paignton. When the forecast is this empty, it’s a tough run for the area. Hang in there, the charts can always change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | S 12 | N 2 | W 9 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | E 4 | NNE 3 | W 8 | W 11 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 | SW 3 | WSW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 139 | 226 | 144 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:11PM3.02m | 1:39AM2.93m | 2:27PM2.90m | 3:14AM2.81m | 4:11PM2.97m | 5:03AM2.93m | 5:39PM3.25m | 6:17AM3.22m | 6:39PM3.61m | 7:11AM3.51m | 7:27PM3.92m | 7:56AM3.73m | 8:10PM4.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:26AM0.81m | 7:02PM1.03m | 7:46AM1.04m | 8:38PM1.12m | 9:20AM1.06m | 10:08PM0.97m | 10:36AM0.88m | 11:16PM0.67m | 11:36AM0.61m | 00:10AM0.35m | 12:25PM0.35m | 00:57AM0.08m | 1:09PM0.14m | 1:39AM-0.09m | |||||||
5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 8:49 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 29 | 21 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | W 9 | — | — | W 7 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | E 4 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 12 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | WSW 8 | W 10 | WSW 9 |
1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 144 | 30 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | S 12 | — | W 9 | — | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 7 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | SW 6 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 4 | E 4 | — | W 10 |
2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 12 | W 9 | W 5 | W 11 | W 6 | W 9 | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 6 | SW 6 | — | WSW 9 | — | — | — |
— | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | 8 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 2 | N 2 | — | ESE 3 | — | NNE 2 | — | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | — | — | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | — | SW 4 | NNW 3 | — | SW 3 | — |
— | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 45 | 139 | 226 | — | 12 | 1 | — | 4 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 417 | 417 | 245 | 228 | 156 | 135 | 135 | 156 | 135 | 135 | 135 | 135 | 483 | 180 | 81 | 81 | 112 | 112 | 40 | 104 | 29 |
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)
Latest Updates
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.











