
Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.1m), 4s period, SE 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 0.1m 4s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 0.5ft (0.1m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down in feet and miles per hour, because I know some of you think that way.
It’s a grim outlook, plain and simple. From the start on September 11th, there’s a huge dry spell. The wave energy is zero – absolutely nothing – all the way through to the 18th. That’s over a week with no surf at all. Just flat, clean water with no waves to ride.
We see a faint heartbeat on September 20th at Paignton (England). You’re looking at a tiny 2 ft swell from the ESE, with a period of only 4 seconds – that’s junky, short-period wind chop. The combined energy is just 9, so there’s barely any power. Add in an onshore wind at 12 mph from the east, and it’s going to be choppy and messy. Not worth a wet suit.
The rest of the window doesn’t get much better. The only slight bump comes on the 25th of September, where we get a 3 ft swell from the ENE with a 5-second period and combined energy of 39. The wind is offshore from the SW at 15 mph, so it’ll be clean, but that wave is still gutless and weak. The water temp is 65°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but it doesn’t make the surf any better.
For Paignton, which is a fairly exposed break to the east, a run of flatness like this isn’t unusual. The few waves that show are too small and weak to bother with. If you see the wind pumping over 18 mph, honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Keep your board in the car for another week. This stretch is a dud.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | SW 5 | SW 8 | W 8 | SW 4 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 3 | SW 4 | W 10 | SW 3 | W 8 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 3 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 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 | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:48PM4.07m | 8:11AM3.91m | 8:23PM4.11m | 8:43AM3.93m | 8:55PM4.03m | 9:13AM3.85m | 9:25PM3.86m | 9:41AM3.71m | 9:54PM3.63m | 10:08AM3.50m | 10:23PM3.36m | 10:36AM3.27m | 10:53PM3.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:53PM0.13m | 1:17AM-0.10m | 1:30PM-0.01m | 1:52AM-0.15m | 2:05PM-0.05m | 2:25AM-0.10m | 2:38PM0.02m | 2:56AM0.06m | 3:11PM0.18m | 3:27AM0.29m | 3:42PM0.42m | 3:57AM0.57m | 4:14PM0.71m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 13 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | WSW 8 | SW 8 | W 8 | W 13 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 6 |
25 | 7 | 10 | 84 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | — | W 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 6 | W 10 | SW 6 | — | — | W 10 |
3 | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 11 | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 5 | — | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SW 2 | SW 3 | — | — | W 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | NNW 2 | — | WSW 3 | WSW 2 |
— | 6 | — | 2 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 56 | 40 | 104 | 193 | 109 | 136 | 251 | 104 | 104 | 104 | 96 | 798 | 1449 | 130 | 29 | 29 | 193 | 381 | 246 | 245 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










