Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, E swell with 123 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me be straight with you – looking at this 16-day stretch for Paignton, it’s a tough watch. The whole period is a write-off for any kind of decent surf. We’ve got a massive gap right from the start with no proper waves on offer.
The first few days are pretty bleak. Saturday the 8th has a tiny 1ft easterly windswell with a period of just 3 seconds, onshore wind, and the combined energy is a paltry (2). That’s not surf, that’s just bump. Sunday morning the 9th goes glassy but with a pathetic 1.0ft swell, and then it drops to nothing. From Sunday afternoon through most of the first week, the swell completely dies. We see a few pulses of weak easterly windswell around the 11th and 12th, hitting maybe 4ft on Tuesday afternoon, but the period is short (6 seconds) and it’s blown out by onshore easterly winds. The energy readings are weak, only hitting (98) at best, and the water temp anomaly is over 2° warmer than normal for the time of year, which is notable.
Later in the week, around Thursday the 14th and Friday the 15th, we get some clean, offshore winds, but there’s zero swell to go with it. It’s a flat spell with nothing to ride. We get another little bump around the 16th and 17th with 2ft to 3ft easterly swells, but the winds are either light cross-onshore or strong offshore. The strongest offshore wind hits Monday the 17th afternoon at 19 mph, but with only 2ft of swell, it’s just a messy, blown-out dribble. After that, from the 18th right through to the 23rd, it’s flat again. No swell energy at all.
So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there isn’t one. Every single record is marked as poor surf conditions. The swell is too small, the periods are too short, or the wind is wrong. For a beginner spot that’s inconsistent at the best of times, this is a long dry spell. If you’re really desperate, the tiny bit of size around Tuesday the 12th with the 4ft easterly swell might be something, but with onshore winds, it’ll be a messy, choppy close-out. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.
Hang in there, but don't hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | E 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | WSW 10 | WSW 3 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 89 | 64 | 98 | 39 | 17 | 34 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:14AM2.81m | 4:11PM2.97m | 5:03AM2.93m | 5:39PM3.25m | 6:17AM3.22m | 6:39PM3.61m | 7:11AM3.51m | 7:27PM3.92m | 7:56AM3.73m | 8:10PM4.12m | 8:36AM3.86m | 8:49PM4.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:38PM1.12m | 9:20AM1.06m | 10:08PM0.97m | 10:36AM0.88m | 11:16PM0.67m | 11:36AM0.61m | 00:10AM0.35m | 12:25PM0.35m | 00:57AM0.08m | 1:09PM0.14m | 1:39AM-0.09m | 1:50PM0.03m | 2:18AM-0.15m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — |
 | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 29 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SW 4 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 12 | WSW 10 | W 10 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | WSW 10 | — | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 17 | 34 | 18 | 1 | 9 | — | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 7 | W 6 | W 9 | — | W 3 | W 6 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 6 | — | — | W 8 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 3 | — | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 12 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | W 10 | — | — | W 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 8 | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | — | — | SW 3 | WNW 2 | — | — | — | E 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 5 | — | SW 2 | — | — | WSW 3 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 21 | 89 | 64 | 98 | 39 | 10 | — | 1 | — | — | 10 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 135 | 496 | 245 | 236 | 132 | 245 | 105 | 483 | 245 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 40 | 29 | 193 | 29 | 40 | 193 | 131 |
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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