Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 7s period, E swell with 554 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s going on down at Paignton.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead. The forecast is pretty bleak for the next two weeks, with no solid surf opportunities on the cards. You’ll be looking at a long gap of days where the waves just aren’t playing ball.
Starting off, Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st of August are a total write-off. The swell energy is practically zero (0), and the onshore wind on Thursday is a messy 19 mph. Friday morning shows a tiny 0.7 ft wave with a short period of 3 seconds – hardly worth paddling out for.
Saturday the 22nd sees a tiny 2 ft from the ENE, but it's straight onshore and choppy. Not a chance.
Sunday the 23rd is flat, and Monday the 24th brings the biggest swell of the month, a 7 ft from the east, but the onshore wind is screaming at 25 mph. The combined energy hits 453, so there’s power there, but that wind will make it a complete mess – more for kites than surfboards.
Tuesday the 25th follows a similar story: 5 ft of east swell with a strong onshore wind. The water temperature is around 67°, which with an anomaly of 5° is much warmer than you’d expect for this time of year.
From Wednesday the 26th right through to Friday the 4th of September, the charts are full of zeros for wave height and swell energy. There’s a few offshore wind days in there, but with no swell to work with, you’re just staring at flat water.
The best on offer – and I’m stretching here – is probably the morning of Thursday the 27th at Paignton. We’ve got a tiny 1 ft from the SE with a period of 4 seconds. The wind is light cross-on from the NNE (3 mph), so it’ll be small and bumpy. Rubbish, but it’s the only ‘surf’ in the whole 16 days.
Honestly, save your energy. It’s a flat spell that’s going to feel like it drags on forever.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu afternoon, light winds from the ESE by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon night, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun night, strong winds from the E by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 3 | W 10 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | S 16 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 4 | S 14 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | S 5 | S 6 | SSW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 141 | 453 | 554 | 187 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 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 | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:01PM0.85m | 00:27AM0.64m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |  |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | 32 |
Temp °C | 20 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | NE 4 | SW 5 | W 10 | E 4 | E 4 | S 14 | SW 14 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 13 | SW 8 | E 6 | E 5 | W 9 | S 6 | SSW 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 50 | 4 | 2 | 62 | 43 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | S 13 | — | S 15 | W 10 | S 15 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | SW 9 | S 13 | SSW 8 | W 10 | — | — | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 8 | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 16 | S 16 | — | S 15 | W 10 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | SW 13 | — | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | W 9 | W 10 |
| kJ | 8 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 5 | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | NW 3 | NNE 3 | SW 2 | NNW 3 | ENE 4 | E 5 | — | — | SE 5 | ESE 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 21 | — | — | 3 | 10 | 141 | 453 | 554 | 187 | 6 | 17 | 70 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 193 | 29 | 40 | 150 | 127 | 81 | 135 | 87 | 119 | 113 | 87 | 278 | 180 | 207 | 207 | 119 | 105 | 136 | 30 | 30 |
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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