Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 3s period, SSE swell with 1 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.2m 3s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 3s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – we’re looking at a pretty grim picture for the next couple of weeks around Paignton. The forecast is a long, dry spell with absolutely nothing to get excited about for a while. Let’s break it down.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid run of flat, useless conditions. From Sunday the 30th of August all the way through the morning of Monday the 7th of September, there’s no surf to speak of. The wind is howling from the southwest and west, mostly cross-off, but it doesn’t matter because there’s zero energy in the water. The water temperature is sitting at 67°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only notable thing.
We finally see a tiny pulse of life on the afternoon of Sunday the 6th of September, but it’s barely a ripple: a 1ft swell from the SE with a period of just 3 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 2 (weak). That’s not surf, that’s wind chop. And the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s messy. Not worth paddling out for.
The next few days are flat again, with some glassy conditions on the morning of Tuesday the 8th of September, but still no waves. It’s torture.
The action, if you can call it that, finally picks up on Friday the 11th of September. We get a little bump from the ESE: 2ft on Friday morning, with a period of 5 seconds. Combined energy is still weak at 17. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’ll be choppy. Not exactly a standout.
Saturday the 12th of September is similar, with 2ft from the east, period still 5 seconds, and energy in the mid-20s. Still cross-onshore winds. Nothing to write home about.
Now, the real change comes on Sunday the 13th of September. The swell finally kicks up to 6ft from the east, period holding at 6 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 221 (moderate). That’s actually some power. But here’s the kicker – the wind is cross-onshore in the morning and onshore in the afternoon. The surf quality is still rated as poor. The size is enough for a beginner to be cautious, but the wind is going to wreck it. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, honestly.
That trend continues into Monday the 14th of September: 6ft from the east, 6-second period, energy at 299 (moderate). But again, the wind is cross-onshore and onshore, making a mess of things. The break is a beach, so with that short-period east swell and onshore wind, it’s going to be a washing machine.
So, looking at the whole 16-day window, there isn’t a single day I’d circle as a real standout. The best you’re going to get is maybe the morning of Sunday the 13th of September if you’re desperate, but you’ll be battling choppy, wind-blown waves. The consistency is just not there for Paignton this time around. It’s a tough one.
Stay tuned, forecasts can change. But for now, I’d leave the boards in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun night, light winds from the W by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Fri afternoon, light winds from the NW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 8 | SSW 5 | SW 7 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | S 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 8:57PM4.01m | 9:18AM3.82m | 9:29PM3.96m | 9:51AM3.76m | 10:03PM3.83m | 10:24AM3.63m | 10:39PM3.61m | 11:02AM3.43m | 11:20PM3.33m | 11:47AM3.19m | 00:14AM3.02m | 12:49PM2.94m | 1:32AM2.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:08PM0.02m | 2:29AM-0.13m | 2:41PM-0.03m | 3:02AM-0.12m | 3:16PM0.02m | 3:38AM0.01m | 3:54PM0.17m | 4:16AM0.24m | 4:36PM0.43m | 5:00AM0.57m | 5:26PM0.77m | 5:55AM0.94m | 6:37PM1.11m | ||||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | |
mm | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | — | — | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 7 | SW 6 | W 9 | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | W 13 | SW 14 | S 14 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | W 11 | WSW 6 |
13 | — | — | 136 | 82 | 12 | 6 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | W 10 | — | SW 16 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | — | — | WSW 12 | W 11 | S 13 | W 10 |
2 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | — | 10 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | W 8 | — | S 13 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | SSW 5 | SW 7 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | SW 2 | — |
62 | 80 | 189 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 6 | 7 | 18 | 45 | 37 | 25 | 20 | 36 | 24 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 279 | 163 | 13 | 163 | 29 | 30 | 138 | 104 | 193 | 296 | 193 | 104 | 104 | 180 | 245 | 246 | 29 | 29 | 137 | 81 |
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.











