
Surf Forecasts:
Putsborough surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 23 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, W swell with 531 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Putsborough this week:
The surf forecast for Putsborough over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Putsborough in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 23) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 23rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Putsborough over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve got to level with you—the next 16 days are a tough slog in the water. The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 16th kicks off with a 1.6m W swell at 10 seconds, but it’s blowing 20 km/h from the NW, so it’s already chopped up and messy by morning, and it doesn’t get any better in the arvo. The combined energy is 492, which is a decent pulse, but with the wind on it, it’s got no shape. Thursday the 17th is worse—1.9m W but a fresh 35 km/h WNW cross-onshore has it lumpy and ugly. The energy is still moderate-to-strong at 388, but you don’t want to be out there in that slop. Friday the 18th drops to 1.3m but it’s still cross-onshore and ordinary, with energy down to 212. Saturday the 19th push back up to 2.0m, but again, fresh cross-shore winds and 476 energy—it’s a mess.
Now, Sunday the 20th is your first real window, and it’s the best of the first week. The wind drops completely to a dead calm glass in the morning—0 km/h—and that 1.1m W swell at 10 seconds is clean. It’s tiny, but it’s clean, and you can actually get a few without getting sand in your teeth. That’s the one. The afternoon fades as a light breeze picks up, but the morning session is a go.
The problem is, after that, the ocean goes dead. From Monday the 21st through to the 26th, the swell implodes. We’re talking 0.6m and dropping by the day, energy values down to 43 and even single digits by the 26th. A few of those days have clean cross-off winds, but it’s just not worth the effort. If you’re a beginner, this is way under your level, and even for the average surfer, it’s a long paddle for nothing. The wind’s calm, but the lack of swell is the story.
Now, we get a tease later in the month. The 22nd of September has some long-period energy on the forecast—0.4m at 18 seconds—but that’s tiny, and the period is so long it’s breaking too straight at a beach break like this. Not worth it. The 23rd gives us 0.6m at 14 seconds with a moderate offshore ESE wind, but it’s still knee-high. The 27th is a small step up—0.9m WSW at 12 seconds in the morning with clean light winds, but again, it’s marginal.
The big one comes on Tuesday the 30th of September. The morning shows a 2.5m W swell at 7 seconds, with a moderate cross-off easterly breeze. The combined energy is 675—that’s the most powerful reading we see in the entire period. But hear me out: that 7-second period is a big red flag. It’s short-period windswell, which means it’s going to be choppy, messy, and closing out fast. It’s not a clean groundswell. For an average surfer, this is over 2.5m, which puts you in expert territory. For a beginner, don’t even think about it. The offshore wind helps keep the face clean, but the short period is going to make it a battle. The afternoon drops to 2.1m but still has that same energy.
After that, Thursday the 1st of October gives us a smaller 1.0m WSW at 9 seconds, clean with a light offshore SE in the morning. It’s a decent if not special little window.
So, what’s the call? If you can get out Sunday the 20th morning, do it—it’s clean and glassy, and while it’s small, it’s the best of the first week. Save the 30th for the experts, because that 2.5m short-period swell is going to be a battle royale that only the most experienced should attempt. For the rest, it’s a waiting game. The middle stretch from the 21st to the 26th is a flat spell, nothing more.
Water temp is about normal for this time of year, so a 3/2 is fine. The 2nd week is all about patience and picking your window carefully.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue night, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the WNW on Tue night, strong winds from the SW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri night, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Fri night, calm by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | W 10 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 18 | W 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
492 | 408 | 121 | 388 | 310 | 247 | 162 | 193 | 427 | 471 | 501 | 152 | 225 | 148 | 90 | 43 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 96 | 163 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 9:50AM7.71m | 10:09PM7.39m | 10:25AM7.12m | 10:45PM6.72m | 11:04AM6.49m | 11:30PM6.07m | 11:56AM5.90m | 00:35AM5.54m | 1:20PM5.51m | 2:18AM5.36m | 3:07PM5.62m | 3:51AM5.71m | 4:20PM6.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:50PM1.25m | 4:06AM1.62m | 4:25PM1.85m | 4:42AM2.23m | 5:08PM2.47m | 5:30AM2.83m | 6:11PM3.04m | 6:51AM3.28m | 7:58PM3.31m | 8:47AM3.29m | 9:40PM3.03m | 10:08AM2.85m | 10:41PM2.48m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | W 10 | — | — | W 9 | W 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 16 | W 14 | W 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 11 | W 10 |
492 | — | 50 | — | — | 85 | 162 | 27 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 152 | 225 | 148 | 90 | 43 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 89 | 106 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 14 | — | W 14 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 18 | W 15 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | — | — | — | — | 89 | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 7 | 96 | 163 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 10 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | — | W 6 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 408 | 121 | 388 | 310 | 247 | — | 193 | 427 | 471 | 501 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 44 | 222 | 276 | 373 | 276 | 44 | 320 | 265 | 265 | 274 | 187 | 46 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 3 | 111 | 80 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Putsborough Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Putsborough provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Putsborough can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Putsborough 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 (Putsborough) 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 Putsborough 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.
Puttsborough is 11 km (7 miles) from Appledore. If you plan a holiday in North Devon, look for hotels and other accommodation in Appledore. Appledore has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










