Paignton Surf Break

Lat Long: 50.43° N 3.56° W

Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 10 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Paignton sea temperature is
18.1° C
2.8° 

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


Paignton surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, E swell with 938 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with E swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:

The surf forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) 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 0.3m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Thu 16th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Best Surf 7PM (Thu 16th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 13th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 8s

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


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Paignton. I’m looking at the next 16 days, and I gotta be straight with you—it’s a tough stretch. The surf just isn’t cooperating, and the wind is a pain.

The first window of any real size comes in on Saturday, 11 July, but it’s a bit of a mess. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the east, but it’s a short-period 6 seconds, so it’s weak and junky. The wind is a cross-onshore, 15 mph, which is going to chop it up. It’s a beginner-friendly height, but the conditions are poor. The wave energy is moderate (153), but it’s not going to be fun.

It gets bigger Sunday, 12 July, with a 6ft to 7ft east swell, period still only 7 seconds. The wind is 19 mph and cross-onshore, making it lumpy and ugly. The energy is climbing (286 to 401), but the quality is poor. For a beginner, 6ft is pushing it a bit, and by 7ft it’s getting too big, and the wind makes it a mess.

Monday, 13 July, is the biggest day of the swell, with a 8ft east swell and an 8-second period. The wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-onshore. That’s 8ft, which is expert-only territory, and with that wind, it’s a washing machine. The energy is strong (724), but it’s not surfable for a normal paddler. Honestly, this looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a clean surf day.

After that, the swell drops back to 4ft to 5ft through the week, but it doesn’t matter because the wind is still cross-onshore. The waves are choppy and confused. By the weekend of 18 and 19 July, the swell is tiny, 1ft to 2ft, with weak, short-period energy. It’s flat, basically.

We hit a real dead zone from Monday, 20 July, onward. The 21st of July goes glassy, but there’s zero swell. For the rest of the forecast, from 21 July to 25 July, the combined energy is literally 0 for most of the time. There’s no surf. The wind goes offshore or glassy on the 24th and 25th, but it’s a flat ocean. You could paddle a SUP, but there’s no wave to ride.

Best on offer: Honestly, there isn’t a standout. If I’m forced to pick, the biggest swell is Monday, 13 July, at 8ft from the east, but it’s only for the experts who don’t mind the wind. The energy is strong (724). But for clean, fun surf? There’s nothing here. It’s a 16-day blank for the most part. Paignton is a fairly exposed beach, so it tends to get the wind, and when it’s flat, it’s flat. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

Sorry, lads. It’s a wax-up-the-board-and-wait kind of fortnight.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the E by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Mon morning, light winds from the ENE by Tue night).

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
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
E
3
0.6
ESE
4
0.5
E
4
1.4
E
6
1.4
E
6
1.3
E
6
1.8
E
7
2.1
E
7
2.5
E
8
2.4
E
8
2
E
8
1.5
E
7
1.6
E
7
1.3
E
6
0.9
E
6
1.5
E
7
1.2
E
7
1.4
E
7
1.5
E
7
1.3
E
6
1.2
E
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3
14
9
153
148
126
286
401
690
724
442
193
226
128
53
196
123
168
196
124
95
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
10
ESE
10
NNE
25
ENE
20
E
20
NE
30
ENE
30
E
30
ENE
35
ENE
20
E
20
NE
30
ENE
20
E
20
NE
25
ENE
20
ENE
10
NNE
15
NE
10
ESE
15
NNE
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
2:57PM3.04m
3:28AM3.02m
4:20PM3.12m
4:59AM3.10m
5:40PM3.34m
6:17AM3.30m
6:44PM3.61m
7:17AM3.52m
7:38PM3.87m
8:08AM3.68m
8:25PM4.06m
8:54AM3.77m
9:09PM4.13m
Low Tide
8:24AM0.85m
9:05PM0.97m
9:40AM0.79m
10:18PM0.79m
10:46AM0.64m
11:21PM0.53m
11:43AM0.45m
00:16AM0.28m
12:34PM0.27m
1:06AM0.08m
1:21PM0.15m
1:53AM-0.04m
2:06PM0.10m
2:37AM-0.06m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:13
5:13
5:15
5:16
5:18
5:18
5:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:23
9:22
9:22
9:22
9:21
9:20
9:19
 mm
1
1
5
Temp °C
24
26
26
25
26
24
25
27
23
23
23
22
23
24
22
21
24
19
23
24
21
Feels °C
22
25
24
22
23
22
21
21
17
19
21
20
19
21
21
17
23
19
22
24
21
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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