Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 3s period, NE swell with 5 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.5m 3s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 3s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cooking for Paignton over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight up with you, it’s looking pretty lean for a good while. We’ve got a real flat spell coming in. From right now, the surf is minimal and poor, and then from the 17th of August right through until the morning of the 23rd, there’s basically nothing rideable—just clean offshore winds on dead flat water. That’s a six-day stretch of no surf, which is a tough run. The water temp is sitting at 67°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year (an anomaly of 5°F), so at least the flat days will be pleasant for a swim.
The first proper sign of life shows up on Sunday the 23rd of August in the afternoon. We’re looking at a tiny pulse of swell coming from the NE at 2ft, but it’s a short-period windswell with just 4 seconds between waves. The combined energy is weak at just (12). To make matters worse, the wind is straight onshore from the east, so that’s not going to do it any favours. It's a poor outlook for surfing.
The best of a bad bunch looks like it might be Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th. On Friday morning the 28th, we get a little bump up to 3ft from the east with a slightly better 5-second period and glassy conditions—zero wind. That’s clean but the energy is still weak (42). It’s a beginner-friendly size, so if you’re desperate for a splash, that’s your window. The swell direction from the east is right off the optimum for Paignton which prefers it from the east, so it’s at least heading in the right direction for the sandbanks.
Saturday the 29th morning is glassy but smaller again, with 1ft. Look, there's not a single standout session in this whole sixteen-day window. It’s a long, slow period with very little energy, and most days the swell is virtually non-existent. The consistency is poor, and when there is a wave, the quality is rated as poor.
For kite surfers, any of those afternoons with a solid cross-off or side wind and flat water might be more interesting than paddling.
Stay patient, and check back in a week.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 3 | NE 4 | N 3 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | SW 5 | W 4 | WSW 3 | W 9 | S 16 | WSW 3 | S 17 | S 16 | WSW 3 | S 15 | S 14 | WSW 4 | S 14 | WSW 10 | S 16 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 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 | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:25PM4.13m | 9:48AM3.81m | 9:59PM3.96m | 10:20AM3.66m | 10:31PM3.71m | 10:51AM3.45m | 11:01PM3.41m | 11:21AM3.22m | 11:33PM3.11m | 11:54AM2.97m | 00:10AM2.82m | 12:36PM2.74m | 00:59AM2.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:29PM0.01m | 2:55AM-0.09m | 3:06PM0.10m | 3:30AM0.07m | 3:42PM0.28m | 4:04AM0.31m | 4:17PM0.52m | 4:37AM0.60m | 4:53PM0.82m | 5:12AM0.92m | 5:32PM1.13m | 5:53AM1.24m | 6:26PM1.44m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | ENE 4 | W 8 | W 7 | ENE 5 | SW 5 | — | — | — | S 16 | — | SW 5 | SW 7 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 4 | WSW 10 | S 13 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WSW 7 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | S 17 | S 16 | SW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | — | W 10 | S 13 | S 16 | W 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 17 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | S 16 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | W 7 | — | S 14 | — | S 16 | S 16 |
| kJ | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | 5 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | WSW 7 | N 3 | NE 4 | — | — | W 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 2 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | — | — | WSW 3 | W 2 | WSW 2 | WSW 4 | WNW 2 | — | SW 3 | NW 2 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | — | — | 10 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 468 | 153 | 150 | 499 | 432 | 280 | 246 | 193 | 290 | 780 | 289 | 137 | 246 | 193 | 265 | 130 | 193 | 30 | 40 | 193 | 40 |
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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