Surf Forecasts:
Putsborough surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, W swell with 368 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Putsborough this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Putsborough in the next 16 days are 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Putsborough over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s take a look at what’s happening at Putsborough. The next couple of weeks are pretty quiet, honestly. There’s a gap at the start with no real surf on offer, but things start to flicker a little life towards the end of the month. Don’t get your hopes up too high early on.
First up, Sunday the 16th into the middle of the week – it’s flat with tiny 1ft to 3ft swell, mostly from the WSW or W with short periods around 5-7 seconds. The combined energy is weak, mostly sitting under 100 (19 to 77). Plus the wind is cross-on or onshore pretty much the whole time, so it’s choppy and messy. Water temp is sitting at 66°F, which is a notable 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year – so that’s a nice surprise if you’re having a paddle.
By Wednesday the 19th, the swell bumps up a bit to 5ft-6ft from the W, period around 7 seconds, and the energy gets into moderate territory (229 to 305). But the wind is fresh cross-onshore, making it lumpy and poor. Not all that inviting.
Thursday the 20th sees the biggest swell of the whole run – 7ft from the W, period 8 seconds, and energy hits 522 – that’s strong wave energy. But again, it’s a fresh cross-onshore wind with rain showers, so it’s rough and messy. This one’s for experts only, if anyone’s keen.
Things settle down after that, with smaller swell through the weekend and into the next week – mostly 1.0ft to 3ft, weak energy, and still cross-onshore or onshore winds. There’s a big gap of several days here with no real recommendations.
Now, the standout – and I mean the only real standout – is Monday the 31st of August. The morning session looks promising. Swell runs 5ft from the W, period 8 seconds, with combined energy at 310, so moderate energy. The wind is light from the ENE, cross-offshore, and it’s clean. This is the best surf on offer for the whole outlook. It’s a beginner-friendly break, fairly consistent, but be aware the crowds are often around here. The swell direction is WSW, which is off the optimum WNW direction but still decent. This is the one to circle on the calendar.
After that, things fade again. So bottom line: there’s a long dry spell, then a short window of hope right at the end. Keep an eye on that Monday 31st morning.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sun morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 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) | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 6 | W 8 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 26 | 9 | 29 | 39 | 51 | 112 | 71 | 86 | 153 | 182 | 311 | 275 | 191 | 94 | 63 | 37 | 36 | 21 | 33 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 9:33PM8.63m | 9:52AM8.14m | 10:11PM8.10m | 10:29AM7.63m | 10:48PM7.45m | 11:07AM7.05m | 11:28PM6.77m | 11:50AM6.44m | 00:16AM6.13m | 12:46PM5.91m | 1:25AM5.65m | 2:09PM5.60m | 3:01AM5.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:18PM0.38m | 3:40AM0.55m | 3:54PM0.78m | 4:15AM1.05m | 4:30PM1.30m | 4:51AM1.63m | 5:09PM1.89m | 5:32AM2.23m | 5:56PM2.48m | 6:24AM2.78m | 7:02PM2.97m | 7:42AM3.16m | 8:37PM3.17m | ||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 8 | W 16 | W 17 | W 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 |
18 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 275 | 58 | 94 | 63 | 21 | 36 | 12 | 33 | 31 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | — | — | W 7 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 13 | W 16 | W 12 | W 11 | SW 15 | NW 4 |
1 | — | — | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 8 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | SW 13 | SW 16 | NW 5 | — | SW 15 |
— | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | 10 | 1 | — | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 7 | W 4 | — | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | — | WNW 7 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 6 | — | N 3 | NNE 2 | ESE 2 |
— | 26 | 2 | — | 39 | 51 | 112 | 71 | 86 | 153 | 182 | 311 | — | 191 | 7 | 17 | 37 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 237 | 422 | 230 | 310 | 441 | 276 | 67 | 1006 | 352 | 313 | 514 | 387 | 440 | 472 | 46 | 46 | 403 | 43 | 310 | 227 | 227 |
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.











