Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 4s period, ESE swell with 34 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Paignton this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Paignton in the next 16 days are 0.9m 4s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking like a write-off for any kind of proper surf around here. We’ve got a solid 16-day window in front of us, but honestly, it’s a long, flat spell. From now right through until the 5th of September, the charts are showing absolutely zero rideable swell. That's a full week of nothing but flat calm.
We finally see a glimpse of life on the 6th of September, with a tiny pulse of knee-high, short-period windswell pushing in from the southeast. At Paignton, you're looking at waves around 2ft to 2ft with a period of just 3 to 4 seconds – weak, gutless energy (a combined energy rating of just 5 to 17). The wind that day is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a choppy mess. Not worth paddling out for.
That little blip fades fast, and the rest of the outlook is more of the same. There are a few mornings, like the 5th of September and the 8th of September, where the wind goes glassy with a light offshore, but with no swell to work with, it’s just a beautiful, flat ocean. Even when we get a small knee-high wave on the 10th and 11th of September, it’s so weak and short-period it’s basically just a ripple.
The water temperature is sitting at 67°F when we do see the first swell on the 31st of August, which is 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year – way warmer than it should be, but it won't help make anything out of nothing.
There are no standouts here. No hidden gems. The forecast confidence is high because nothing is happening. This is one of those blank runs where the area just goes quiet. Don't bother waxing the board; check back in a week or so, forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | WSW 10 | SW 6 | SW 3 | SW 6 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | S 14 | W 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 30 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:29PM3.96m | 9:51AM3.76m | 10:03PM3.83m | 10:24AM3.63m | 10:39PM3.61m | 11:02AM3.43m | 11:20PM3.33m | 11:47AM3.19m | 00:14AM3.02m | 12:49PM2.94m | 1:32AM2.74m | 2:21PM2.80m | 3:26AM2.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:41PM-0.03m | 3:02AM-0.12m | 3:16PM0.02m | 3:38AM0.01m | 3:54PM0.17m | 4:16AM0.24m | 4:36PM0.43m | 5:00AM0.57m | 5:26PM0.77m | 5:55AM0.94m | 6:37PM1.11m | 7:20AM1.24m | 8:31PM1.25m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 7 | SW 6 | W 9 | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | SW 15 | S 15 | S 14 | W 8 | SW 4 | WSW 6 | W 11 | SW 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 |
138 | 82 | 11 | 6 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 10 | W 10 | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | S 13 | W 10 | — | — | S 12 |
— | — | 20 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | S 14 | W 14 | — | S 13 | — | — | S 12 |
— | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | WNW 3 | WNW 2 | — | SW 3 | SW 6 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | WNW 2 | — | SW 2 | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 5 |
9 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 5 | 17 | 30 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 246 | 163 | 29 | 30 | 138 | 30 | 547 | 193 | 104 | 286 | 193 | 246 | 29 | 245 | 29 | 30 | 104 | 81 | 91 | 126 | 119 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.











