Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 5s 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 0.6m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here, giving you the lowdown on Paignton for the next couple of weeks.
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – it’s a rough stretch. We’ve got a big gap of flatness right from the start all the way through to the end of next week. The first few days are a total bust. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are tiny with waves around 0.7ft to 2ft, short periods of 3 to 5 seconds, and the energy is pathetic (combined energy 1 to 9). The wind is either onshore or cross, so it’s just choppy junk. Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd are completely flat. Thursday the 23rd brings a tiny 2ft wave from the east, but it’s a short 4-second period and the wind is onshore, so it’s a no-go.
From Thursday the 24th all the way through to the 28th, it’s flat, flat, flat. The wind blows offshore at times, but there’s no swell to push. The water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year, but that’s small comfort.
Now, if you’re hanging on, there is one tiny glimmer. Wednesday the 29th of July. We’ve got a 2ft bump from the northeast, period still short at 4 seconds, so it’s windswell. But the wind is offshore from the WSW, light in the morning, and it’s clean. The combined energy is weak (18), but for a break that’s inconsistent and only fairly exposed, this is your best shot. Paignton is a beginner spot, and this is the only time you’ll find anything rideable. Crowds are possible, so be ready to share.
After that, it flattens out again through the end of the month and into early August. There’s a tiny 1ft ripple on the 3rd of August from the north-northeast, but with a fresh cross-offshore wind and energy of just 2, it’s not worth paddling for.
Bottom line: this is a lean period for Paignton. The break is inconsistent by nature, and this forecast shows exactly why. The only real window to get a few clean ones is the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. Keep your expectations real low, and you might just have a laugh.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sun 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 3 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | W 10 | SW 2 | NNE 3 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | S 11 | SW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 4:16PM2.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:49AM1.35m | 10:31PM1.32m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:08 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 3 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | — | — | — | W 9 | E 5 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 |
| kJ | — | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 8 | — | — | S 11 | — |
| kJ | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | W 10 | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | — | NNW 2 | — | ESE 3 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | — | SW 2 | NNE 3 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 156 | 401 | 412 | 156 | 156 | 443 | 113 | 135 | 321 | 321 | 645 | 258 | 530 | 490 | 417 | 441 | 771 | 515 | 570 | 901 | 486 |
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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