Paignton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a grim stretch. We’re lookin' at a long, dry spell with almost no surf on offer. The first few days are a total write-off. From Tuesday 1st September right through to Saturday 6th, it’s just flat. Not a ripple. Nothin’. You’d be better off polishing your board than staring at the ocean. There’s a bit of a hiccup on Sunday the 6th with some tiny windswell – 2ft from the SE with a short 4-second period – but the onshore wind kills it. It’s poor, no energy to speak of (combined energy of all swells directed here is just 13 to 14). Don’t bother.

The gap drags on. Monday 7th gives us a glassy morning with a 2ft swell, but the period is only 5 seconds and the combined swell energy is a measly 11. It’s weak. After that, we’re back to zero for days. Tuesday 8th right through Saturday 13th September is completely flat again. Nothing. Nada.

Finally, we see something on Sunday 13th, but it’s a 1ft onshored mess – skip it.

The only flicker of life comes in the second week. On Monday 14th September, a bigger pulse arrives: 4ft to 5ft from the E, with a 6-second period. The combined swell energy climbs into moderate territory (103 to 134), but the wind is cross-onshore and onshore, making it choppy and messy. Not clean.

Tuesday 15th sees the swell push up to 5ft from the E, period still at 6 seconds, energy now at 206 – that’s moderate, bordering on strong. The morning has a cross-onshore wind, so it’s gonna be choppy and tough to surf.

Wednesday 16th September is the standout – if you can call it that. Swell hits 6ft from the E, period 7 seconds, and the combined swell energy is up to 263. Still, it’s a choppy, cross-onshore mess for the morning. This setup is more suited for a kite than a paddle, honestly.

So, about the only place to even mention is Paignton. It’s a beginner spot that’s inconsistent, and it’s fairly exposed to swell from the E. The best day in the whole two weeks is probably Tuesday 15th or Wednesday 16th, but even then, the conditions are poor. The waves will be there, but the wind will tear ‘em up. It’s not gonna be pretty.

Water temp? No anomaly data for Paignton in this run, so we’ll call it average for this time of year.

Bottom line: if you’re desperate, keep an eye on the 15th and 16th of September for some chest-to-head-high, onshore slop at Paignton. Otherwise, this stretch is a write-off. The good news is it’s a long season, and these flat runs never last forever.

Rusty.

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