Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 6s period, E swell with 15 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
Alright, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this is a tough one. The outlook for the next 16 days is pretty bleak. We’re looking at a long stretch of flatness with only a few tiny, unrideable bumps. The first real surf to even talk about isn't until Tuesday the 11th of August, so we’ve got a solid week of quiet water ahead.
The water at Paignton is running at a very unusual 68°F right now, which is a massive 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a real talking point down at the beach.
For the first week, from the 1st through to the morning of the 11th, it’s a total write-off. The combined swell energy is basically zero or single digits (0-7), with most days showing no swell at all. The odd ripple shows up on the 2nd with a tiny 2ft from the ENE, but with a period of 4 seconds and a cross-on wind, it’s just messy. The 9th has a glassy morning with a tiny 2ft, but that's only a 3-second period (0-5 energy). Nothing is worth paddling for.
The only glimmer, and I mean a tiny glimmer, comes in the second week. On Tuesday the 11th of August, we finally see a pulse. The morning offers a 3ft swell from the East with a 5-second period, which is short and weak, but it’s the biggest we’ve seen. The combined energy climbs to 37 (weak energy), and with a light cross-offshore breeze from the WNW, it might just be clean enough for a beginner to get a few whitewater rides. The afternoon cleans up with a moderate offshore from the WNW, but the swell drops to 2ft.
After that, it’s back to flatness again from the 12th through the 16th, with zero swell energy and clean, but empty, conditions.
The break is inconsistent and best for beginners, and honestly, even the best day on the 11th is nothing to write home about. It’s a desperate situation. For the area, a blank run like this is more normal than not when the charts are quiet. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board in the car and enjoy the warm sand.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the W by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 3 | N 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | W 10 | E 6 | E 5 | WSW 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 7 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 6 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | W 10 | SW 3 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:25PM3.86m | 9:47AM3.57m | 9:57PM3.83m | 10:20AM3.55m | 10:29PM3.74m | 10:54AM3.47m | 11:04PM3.59m | 11:32AM3.35m | 11:44PM3.39m | 12:15PM3.19m | 00:33AM3.16m | 1:11PM3.02m | 1:39AM2.93m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:55AM0.12m | 3:03PM0.23m | 3:28AM0.10m | 3:39PM0.26m | 4:04AM0.16m | 4:17PM0.37m | 4:43AM0.31m | 5:00PM0.55m | 5:29AM0.54m | 5:52PM0.79m | 6:26AM0.81m | 7:02PM1.03m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — |
 | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | E 6 | E 5 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | S 13 | — | SW 6 | — | SW 5 | SW 5 | W 9 | SW 4 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 13 | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 8 | W 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 | — | W 6 | S 12 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | S 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | N 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | WSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 7 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WNW 3 | WSW 4 | WNW 3 | — | SW 3 | NNW 2 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 75 | 31 | 14 | 2 | 11 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 156 | 87 | 483 | 135 | 87 | 40 | 119 | 87 | 265 | 170 | 202 | 246 | 246 | 246 | 378 | 193 | 30 | 137 | 490 | 252 |
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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