
Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.1m), 5s 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 5s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 0.5ft (0.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the menu. Gotta be honest, this is a grim outlook. For the full 16 days, from Monday the 7th of September through to Tuesday the 22nd, there is nothing worthwhile to chase.
Zero surf for the first ten days, from the 7th to the 16th. Combined swell energy is a flat zero (0). The water is running about 66°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—over 4°F above the average—so it’s nice for a dip, but not for a surf.
We see the tiniest hint of a bump on Thursday the 17th, but it’s not enough to bother. You’re looking at 1 ft of swell out of the NE with a period of just 3 seconds and combined energy at a weak 3. The wind is a messy cross-offshore at 16 mph, and the whole thing is written off as poor surf conditions. Paignton is an inconsistent, beginner-friendly spot that’s fairly exposed to the east, but this little pulse is a dud.
The only other pulse is Sunday the 20th, where we get 3 ft out of the NE, a period of 5 seconds, and combined energy hitting just 30. Again, poor surf conditions. There’s a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon with a fresh offshore wind at 19 mph. It’s glassy clean, but with a tiny, weak, short-period swell, you’re not going to find a ride worth paddling for.
Over the whole 16-day window, the biggest wave height is 3 ft, and even that’s from a brief, weak pulse. The combined swell energy never breaks 100—it’s all zeros and low double digits. This is just what a blank run looks like around here. Don’t bother with the board. If the wind stays strong and the surf stays this small and crummy, the beach setup is likely more interesting for kite surfers than anyone with a paddle.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 8 | W 16 | SW 7 | W 15 | SW 4 | SW 3 | WSW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 4:14PM2.93m | 5:08AM2.91m | 5:33PM3.27m | 6:10AM3.25m | 6:26PM3.63m | 6:56AM3.56m | 7:10PM3.91m | 7:36AM3.78m | 7:48PM4.07m | 8:11AM3.91m | 8:23PM4.11m | 8:43AM3.93m | 8:55PM4.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:11PM1.03m | 10:34AM1.00m | 11:13PM0.68m | 11:29AM0.67m | 00:00AM0.34m | 12:13PM0.37m | 00:41AM0.07m | 12:53PM0.13m | 1:17AM-0.10m | 1:30PM-0.01m | 1:52AM-0.15m | 2:05PM-0.05m | 2:25AM-0.10m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | — | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 8 | WSW 7 | W 15 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WSW 6 |
40 | 57 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | 10 | 7 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | W 13 | W 12 | — | W 11 | — | — | — | W 16 | W 10 | W 15 | — | — | S 4 |
— | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | NW 2 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | SW 7 | SW 2 | SW 4 | SW 3 | — |
9 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 9 | 1 | 10 | 7 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 112 | 64 | 104 | 29 | 246 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 40 | 126 | 193 | 104 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 92 | 104 | 104 | 246 | 162 | 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.










