Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, E swell with 401 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s not beat around the bush: for the next couple of weeks around Paignton, it’s looking properly grim. There’s a long gap with absolutely nothing on offer from right now until the 22nd, just flat, messy conditions. You’re looking at several days of staring at a lake before anything worth the effort even shows up.
The first bit of swell arrives on Saturday the 22nd, but it’s a weak windswell—maybe 2ft of easterly windchop at a short period, so it’s not really surf. The energy is weak (15), and the wind is straight onshore. You’d be fighting it more than riding it. Sunday backs way off, pretty useless.
The one true standout in this entire window is Monday the 24th. The energy jumps up to a solid 212 in the morning, building to a strong 401 by the afternoon, with swell from the east at 6ft to 7ft. The period is short, only 6-7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but there’s some power behind it. The wind is howling onshore at 19-22 mph, so it’ll be pretty wild and choppy. Over 5ft means it’s not one for the beginners, and that onshore breeze is going to make it a battle. You’ll be earning every wave.
After that, it just fades away. Tuesday the 25th has some leftover energy (64), but it drops off a cliff, and then it’s back to nothing from the 26th all the way through to the end of the forecast. The wind does shift offshore and clean around the 28th through the 3rd of September, which is a massive tease, but there’s just no swell behind it. Flat and clean is still flat.
Paignton is exposed to that easterly swell, but it’s inconsistent on its best days, and this run is showing exactly why. With the swell this weak and the wind onshore for the only real pulse, this setup honestly looks more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers. The water is running much warmer than normal for the time of year—about 5° warmer than usual—so at least you won’t need a thick suit for the long paddles to nowhere. There’s just nothing consistent here, so this blank spell is more normal for the area when conditions line up badly. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, there’s nothing to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 10 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | N 3 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 4 | ENE 3 | SE 4 | E 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 212 | 401 | 279 | 64 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross | on | cross |
High Tide | 11:54AM2.97m | 00:10AM2.82m | 12:36PM2.74m | 00:59AM2.56m | 1:38PM2.55m | 2:18AM2.39m | 3:26PM2.50m | 4:39AM2.44m | 5:20PM2.72m | 5:54AM2.70m | 6:12PM3.04m | 6:36AM2.99m | 6:49PM3.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:32PM1.13m | 5:53AM1.24m | 6:26PM1.44m | 7:03AM1.52m | 8:30PM1.62m | 9:18AM1.58m | 10:16PM1.49m | 10:35AM1.39m | 11:13PM1.23m | 11:24AM1.13m | 11:53PM0.94m | 12:01PM0.85m | 00:27AM0.64m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | SW 5 | W 8 | W 10 | ESE 4 | S 14 | SE 4 | SW 9 | W 9 | SW 13 | SW 8 | E 6 | E 5 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSE 5 | W 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 64 | 8 | 6 | 44 | 17 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | NE 4 | — | S 15 | S 15 | SW 15 | — | S 14 | S 14 | SW 14 | W 9 | S 13 | SW 8 | SSE 4 | — | W 9 | SW 7 | W 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | 8 | — | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 25 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 16 | W 10 | SW 15 | W 10 | — | — | — | W 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | — | S 12 | W 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | NW 3 | NNE 3 | — | N 3 | E 4 | E 4 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 3 | E 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | — | SW 3 | SSW 4 | — | — | S 5 |
| kJ | 8 | 12 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 15 | 9 | — | 3 | 1 | 11 | 212 | 401 | 279 | — | 9 | 7 | — | — | 87 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 159 | 515 | 29 | 40 | 40 | 105 | 81 | 105 | 87 | 135 | 135 | 105 | 486 | 432 | 482 | 207 | 114 | 87 | 126 | 30 | 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.
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