Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 4s period, ESE swell with 3 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.3m 4s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) 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 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at this one. Plain and simple: the next 16 days are a real struggle for Paignton. There’s nothing here that’s going to get the heart pumping. The first bit of surf worth mentioning doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, July 29th, and even then, it’s barely a whisper. A tiny 1 ft swell from the ESE with a weak period of only 4 seconds, giving a combined energy of just (3). That’s flat, mate. That’s not surfing water.
The water at Paignton is currently sitting at 66.7°, a wild 5.4° warmer than usual for this time of year, which is unusual. But the sea temperature doesn’t matter much when you can’t get a wave.
From July 25th right through to August 9th, it’s essentially a desert. There’s a long gap of nearly two weeks with nothing but “poor surf conditions” written all over it. Winds will be offshore for a lot of mornings, especially around July 27th with a 6 mph WNW breeze, and again on July 28th with a clean offshore from the WNW at 9 mph – but there’s no swell to work with. It’s like having a perfect car with no engine.
Even when there’s a tiny bump on August 7th – a 1.3 ft NNE swell at 4 seconds and a combined energy of (6) – it’s still pitiful. The afternoon clean up on August 9th with a cross-offshore NW wind at 16 mph looks tidy, but again, zero swell is on offer. This stretch looks better for a paddle on a SUP than a surfboard.
If you’re desperate, the absolute standout – and I use that word lightly – is Wednesday morning, July 29th with that 1 ft ESE swell, a light 6 mph onshore wind making it clean enough for a longboard. It’s beginner-level stuff, inconsistent, and the break is fairly exposed, but it’s the only wave on the horizon. Don’t plan a trip around it. For the rest of it, the conditions are so flat and steady with poor surf quality that it actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Honestly, forecasts can change, but this run looks pretty typical for the area when it’s this dead. Stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 | W 3 | W 3 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | SW 4 | SW 4 | W 9 | W 9 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | W 7 | W 7 | SE 4 | W 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:16PM2.64m | 5:04AM2.57m | 5:43PM2.81m | 6:13AM2.76m | 6:34PM3.06m | 6:57AM2.98m | 7:13PM3.31m | 7:35AM3.18m | 7:48PM3.53m | 8:09AM3.35m | 8:21PM3.71m | 8:42AM3.47m | 8:54PM3.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:31PM1.32m | 10:50AM1.22m | 11:24PM1.14m | 11:37AM1.04m | 00:07AM0.92m | 12:17PM0.84m | 00:45AM0.70m | 12:53PM0.64m | 1:19AM0.50m | 1:26PM0.47m | 1:52AM0.33m | 1:58PM0.34m | 2:23AM0.20m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — |
 | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:01 | — | — | 9:00 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 21 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 10 | — | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | — | SW 4 | SW 5 | W 5 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | — | — | W 10 | SW 4 | SW 4 | W 6 | W 6 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | 9 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | NNW 2 | — | SE 4 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 2 | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 486 | 632 | 777 | 246 | 30 | 246 | 180 | 137 | 87 | 114 | 105 | 119 | 193 | 279 | 135 | 245 | 113 | 81 | 137 | 105 |
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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