Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you on this one. Looking at the full 16-day window, I’ve gotta say it’s a pretty grim picture for getting wet. The finder is coming up empty – no solid recommendations stand out in the whole period. The guidance shows Paignton is the only break the system is tracking, and it’s rated for beginners, but it’s inconsistent and only fairly exposed. The honest truth is, for most of the next two weeks, there’s just no surf to speak of.

The first real sniff of anything comes right at the start, but it’s a bust. Tuesday 4th August has a clean look with clear skies, but there’s simply no swell energy (0). The water is sitting at 66°, which is a wild 5° warmer than average for this time of year – that’s much warmer than normal, which is a weird twist for a flat spell. Wednesday and Thursday whip up a fresh offshore breeze from the WNW and NW, gusting 19 mph, but again, zero swell. It’s like the ocean is taking a holiday.

We then drift through a long, flat gap. Friday 7th through Sunday 9th offer nothing but a light breeze and small wind ripples, with no wave energy. The first tiny pulse shows up on Monday 10th August morning – a pathetic 0.3 ft from the NE with a period of just 4 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 2 (weak). That’s not a surfable wave, just a ripple. The afternoon goes glassy, but still flat.

The following week limps along. Tuesday 11th has a 1 ft cross-onshore mess, energy at 4 (weak). By Wednesday 12th morning, we get a 3 ft easterly swell with a 6-second period, energy hits 64 (weak). That’s the biggest swell of the outlook, but it’s onshore from the E at 19 mph, so it’ll be a blown-out, choppy mess at Paignton. Not recommended for a paddle. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing that day.

After that, it fizzles out. The rest of the period from 13th August onward is a desert. Zero energy, just offshore winds here and there, but no wave to surf. The final record on Wednesday 19th August shows a weak 1.0 ft pulse with 5 seconds period, energy at 5 (weak), and a cross-off wind, but it’s too little, too late.

Overall, this is a blank run. In an area like this, when the break is inconsistent and the swell exposure is only fair, these flat spells are normal. Don’t hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d suggest keeping the board in the car and the wax in the wrapper.

Rusty.

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