Surf Forecasts:
Putsborough surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, W swell with 242 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Putsborough in the next 16 days are 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Putsborough over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer at Putsborough over the next couple of weeks.
To be honest, the outlook is a tough one for the first week. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing much happening. From Thursday the 20th all the way through to Friday the 28th of August, the surf is tiny or chopped out. There’s a bit of ankle-slapping energy on the 20th with 5ft of weak, short-period windswell, but it’s coming in with a strong 19 mph onshore blow, so it’s just messy. The water is sitting at 66°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least a dip won’t be cold, but the waves are a write-off. The combined swell energy is a feeble 334 (moderate) at best, but the wind kills it.
We then hit a proper dead zone from the 21st through the 27th. Swell heights drop below 2ft, and most of the time the wind is cross or onshore. The period is often short, under 10 seconds, so there’s no real push. The combined energy drops into the teens and twenties – really weak stuff. It’s a blank run of about 8 days where you’d be better off doing something else.
Things start to look a little more interesting on Saturday the 29th of August. The morning shows some promise. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the WSW, with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is light and cross-offshore out of the SW at 9 mph, and the combined energy jumps to 338 (moderate). The conditions are described as clean, and the rating says it could be good. That’s the standout of the whole period – a real chance for a few fun ones if you can get out there early before the wind swings. The swell is pushing 6ft, which is a bit much for beginners, but for the average surfer, it’s a solid window.
Sunday the 30th of August, the swell jumps to 10ft from the W with a 9-second period, but the wind goes onshore and strong, turning it into a lumpy, cross-onshore mess. That’s expert territory with the size, but the wind will make it a battle. The combined energy spikes to 1219 (strong), but it’s not friendly.
The rest of the run into the first week of September stays big, with 7ft to 8ft swell, but the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, gusting to 19 mph. The water stays warm, but the conditions are consistently poor. The only real chance for a clean wave is that Saturday morning the 29th. If you’re a beginner, stay away from the bigger days. If you’re an expert, the 30th and 2nd of September have size, but the wind will make it a grunt.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a total loss. The window from the 29th of August morning is your best bet. After that, it’s big and messy. Keep an eye on it, because forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a one-morning wonder.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Thu morning, calm by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun night, strong winds from the E by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | SW 5 | WSW 6 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
243 | 242 | 130 | 68 | 64 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 29 | 26 | 42 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 11:50AM6.44m | 00:16AM6.13m | 12:46PM5.91m | 1:25AM5.65m | 2:09PM5.60m | 3:01AM5.52m | 3:45PM5.74m | 4:23AM5.83m | 4:52PM6.21m | 5:18AM6.35m | 5:39PM6.80m | 5:59AM6.91m | 6:17PM7.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:56PM2.48m | 6:24AM2.78m | 7:02PM2.97m | 7:42AM3.16m | 8:37PM3.17m | 9:21AM3.15m | 10:08PM2.95m | 10:37AM2.77m | 11:10PM2.47m | 11:29AM2.24m | 11:54PM1.92m | 12:08PM1.70m | 00:30AM1.39m | ||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 15 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 13 | WNW 5 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 6 | W 8 |
83 | 8 | 130 | 68 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 22 | 26 | 42 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | W 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 16 | WSW 8 | N 5 | SW 15 | NW 3 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NNE 2 | SW 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | — | SW 8 | W 13 | W 8 | SW 7 |
8 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 23 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | 2 | 3 | 21 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 5 | W 16 | W 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | SW 15 | — | W 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | W 13 | — | — | — |
— | — | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 9 | — | 8 | — | 2 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 3 | E 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 3 | — | SW 3 | SW 5 | — | E 2 |
243 | 242 | 26 | 13 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 9 | 16 | 3 | — | 1 | 29 | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 67 | 606 | 44 | 46 | 93 | 43 | 3 | 95 | 39 | 143 | 143 | 80 | 403 | 404 | 403 | 278 | 111 | 39 | 218 | 3 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











