Surf Forecasts:
Preston Beach surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, E swell with 131 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Preston Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Preston Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Preston Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Preston Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for this stretch.
Honestly, it's a tough outlook for Preston Beach (Preston-Beach). The first week is a write-off. From Wednesday the 5th right through to the 11th of August, we're looking at flat, soul-less conditions. Wind is mostly cross or cross-off, and there's just no energy in the water. You'd be wasting your gas for nothing. That's a solid seven-day gap with absolutely nothing to recommend.
There’s a tiny flicker of hope on Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. We get a bit of a pulse of 4ft easterly swell, with a period of 7 seconds. Combined energy is moderate (104). The wind is glassy—dead calm—so the surface will be clean as a whistle, but the swell is small and short-period. It's surfable for a beginner, but honestly, it's pretty ordinary. The water temp is a notable 67°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won't need the thick rubber.
After that morning, it fades fast. Thursday the 13th has a tiny 1ft leftovers, and from Friday the 14th all the way through to Thursday the 20th, we're looking at zero surf again. The wind picks up strongly from the west late in the run, but with no swell, it's just a blowy, flat ocean.
There is no standout session here. The best on offer, if you can call it that, is the glassy Wednesday 12th morning, but don't expect much. If you're a kiter, the strong westerlies late in the run might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, this is a lean, lean forecast.
Stay patient, folks.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the N by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 3 | S 12 | W 10 | S 12 | S 11 | W 9 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 2 | WSW 7 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 45 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:44PM3.39m | 12:15PM3.19m | 00:33AM3.16m | 1:11PM3.02m | 1:39AM2.93m | 2:27PM2.90m | 3:14AM2.81m | 4:11PM2.97m | 5:03AM2.93m | 5:39PM3.25m | 6:17AM3.22m | 6:39PM3.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:00PM0.55m | 5:29AM0.54m | 5:52PM0.79m | 6:26AM0.81m | 7:02PM1.03m | 7:46AM1.04m | 8:38PM1.12m | 9:20AM1.06m | 10:08PM0.97m | 10:36AM0.88m | 11:16PM0.67m | 11:36AM0.61m | 00:10AM0.35m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:42 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 27 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 24 | 27 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SW 6 | SW 6 | — | SW 5 | SW 5 | W 9 | SW 4 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | — | SW 7 | — | — | SW 6 | SW 6 | W 7 | W 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 6 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | SW 12 | — | W 10 | S 12 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | SW 7 | — | WSW 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 12 | — | S 12 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | — | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 6 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | W 3 | — | WSW 3 | NW 2 | — | SW 3 | N 3 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | SW 2 | NNW 2 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 5 |
| kJ | 51 | 5 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 19 | 45 | 18 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 247 | 246 | 157 | 513 | 267 | 416 | 449 | 440 | 157 | 157 | 136 | 136 | 157 | 157 | 291 | 138 | 136 | 103 | 169 | 84 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Preston Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Preston Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Preston Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Preston Beach 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 (Preston Beach) 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 Preston Beach 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.
Preston Beach 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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