Surf Forecasts:
Paignton surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 3s period, NNE swell with 7 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 4AM. 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 4s 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 | 4AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 3s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Paignton over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and listen up, because I’ve got a tough one for you today. Honestly, I’ve been staring at the charts and it’s a pretty grim run for our neck of the woods. We’re looking at a 16-day window with essentially zero surf on offer. That’s a long, flat spell, and I’m not just saying that to be dramatic.
The only spot on the radar is Paignton, but she’s an inconsistent beginner’s break that’s fairly exposed to the east. Right now, the water is sitting at 67°, which is a massive 5° warmer than average for this time of year – that’s really unusual, makes you feel like you’re surfing in a bath.
The problem starts immediately. Friday the 14th is glassy, but with zero swell energy (0) and poor conditions. It’s a no-go. We then slide into a long stretch of nothing. The morning of Saturday the 15th brings a tiny 1ft swell from the NE with a short 4-second period, giving us a weak 3 combined energy. It’s poor. The whole weekend and into the next week is a ghost town – constant onshore and cross-shore winds from the north and west, with a few moments of clean offshore winds, but absolutely no swell to push. It’s just wind.
We get a little tease around the 25th of August. Tuesday morning sees a 2ft south swell with a short 4-second period and a weak 15 combined energy. The wind is offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, which is clean. It’s the best we’ll see, but it’s still a tiny wave with poor conditions. By Tuesday afternoon, that swell bumps up to 3ft from the south with 36 combined energy, and the offshore wind holds. For a split second, there’s something rideable, but it’s short-lived.
The next notable event is far out – Saturday the 29th of August. We get a glassy morning with a 2ft south-east swell, a 3-second period, and a 4 combined energy. It’s tiny, weak, and the wind is from the east at 3 mph, glassy. It’s flat, but at least it’s pretty.
So, the bottom line is this: we have a 16-day forecast with no standout days, no real surf. The only semi-rideable window is around the 25th, but it’s for experts only if you want to get any kind of thrill out of a 3ft slop. If you’re a kiter, this set-up might be more interesting than for us paddle surfers, especially with the fresh winds later in the period. But for a surf, I’d say take a break, clean your gear, and wait for the next system. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue night, fresh winds from the W by Wed afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 11 | NE 4 | NE 4 | N 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | SW 5 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | S 16 | SW 3 | SW 4 | S 16 | WSW 4 | W 3 | WSW 5 | WSW 10 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 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 | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:49PM4.19m | 9:13AM3.88m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:18AM-0.15m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 18 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 15 |
Feels °C | 26 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | SW 4 | WSW 7 | ENE 4 | W 8 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | SW 5 | — | — | W 9 | S 16 | — | S 17 | WSW 6 | S 16 | S 15 | WSW 5 | WSW 10 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 16 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | W 10 | NE 4 | — | W 8 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 14 | S 4 | — | W 10 | W 10 | S 14 | W 10 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 11 | — | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | S 16 | — | — | W 8 | — | S 14 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 4 | SW 7 | N 3 | N 3 | SW 2 | — | — | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | WNW 3 | WSW 4 | W 3 | NW 3 | WNW 2 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 137 | 468 | 253 | 153 | 135 | 279 | 313 | 496 | 193 | 290 | 378 | 137 | 103 | 778 | 246 | 298 | 30 | 130 | 129 |
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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