Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SW swell with 711 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Salcombe this week:
The surf forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Salcombe in the next 16 days are 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) 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 1.5m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I gotta be straight with you: Salcombe is going through a rough patch. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off, but there’s a glimmer of hope right at the very end of the window if you're patient.
Right now, the combined swell energy is weak, sitting at just 88, with a tiny 2ft wind swell from the west. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, but with a moderate cross-offshore breeze and rain showers, it’s just not worth paddling out. The whole first week is a mess of poor surf conditions. You’ll see small, short-period swell on the 20th, but a 19 mph cross-off wind and a combined energy of 575 makes it bumpy, not fun.
There’s a long gap of flat, choppy days. The 21st of August offers a brief tease – Friday afternoon sees a gentle offshore wind from the NE with a clean 3ft of swell, but it’s weak at 97 energy. For the next several days, the wind is all wrong, and the swell drops to almost nothing. We’re looking at 1ft dribble with cross-shore and onshore winds until around the 25th.
Things start to shift on the 26th of August. The combined energy jumps to 376, but the 5ft swell is from the SW with a short 8-second period and a cross-shore wind, so it’s still sloppy. The 27th afternoon is interesting: 8ft from the W at 10 seconds, with a clean cross-offshore wind from the WSW. The energy hits 1079 (moderate) and the score finally climbs to a 1, but it's still tagged as marginal. That's the first real hint of something better.
Then we get to the absolute standout. Friday morning, the 28th of August. Salcombe gets a solid 5ft of west swell (8 seconds) with a clean, moderate offshore wind from the WNW. The energy is 519 (moderate) and the score hits a 2. The offshore wind will make for clean, peelable waves. It's not huge, but after this drought, it’ll feel like a gift. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook.
After that, it gets a bit mixed again. The 30th and 31st have some decent-sized swell (up to 12ft on the 31st), with a 10-second period and offshore winds, but the energy numbers are huge (2250 on the 31st) and the conditions are still tagged as marginal. That’s big, raw power, but the wind is fresh, so it'll be a bumpy, challenging session – more for experts.
Tuesday the 1st of September still has good size (8ft) and clean-ish offshore winds, but again, the score is marginal. The window closes on the 2nd with a near-gale blowing, which will absolutely ruin any chance of a wave.
So, to wrap it up: it’s a flat start, a long gap of poor conditions, one clean morning on the 28th of August that’s the clear winner, and then some big but messy power towards the end of the first week of September. Keep your eyes on the 28th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SE by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SW 16 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | ENE 5 | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | SW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | 10 | 239 | 567 | 593 | 349 | 127 | 90 | 35 | 42 | 35 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 35 | 14 | 12 | 50 | 587 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:10AM3.40m | 11:23PM3.29m | 11:45AM3.15m | 00:03AM2.99m | 12:31PM2.91m | 00:56AM2.73m | 1:35PM2.72m | 2:16AM2.57m | 3:13PM2.68m | 4:13AM2.61m | 4:59PM2.88m | 5:36AM2.86m | 5:56PM3.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:37AM0.62m | 4:52PM0.84m | 5:11AM0.96m | 5:31PM1.18m | 5:52AM1.30m | 6:25PM1.50m | 7:00AM1.59m | 8:23PM1.69m | 9:13AM1.65m | 10:11PM1.55m | 10:32AM1.45m | 11:08PM1.28m | 11:20AM1.17m | 11:49PM0.96m | |||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | E 5 | ESE 4 | W 9 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | W 10 | SW 13 |
27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 349 | 127 | 90 | 35 | 42 | 35 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 25 | 14 | 16 | 50 | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | ENE 3 | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 9 | W 8 | E 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | ENE 5 | E 4 |
10 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 1 | — | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 12 | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | 7 | 3 | — | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 5 | W 6 | W 9 | W 9 | — | ENE 3 | — | NW 4 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | SE 5 | — | E 4 | ENE 5 | NW 2 | — | SSW 3 | SW 10 |
51 | 73 | 239 | 567 | 593 | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | 1 | 3 | 12 | 1 | — | 6 | 35 | 1 | — | 1 | 587 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 585 | 169 | 176 | 174 | 151 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 154 | 85 | 159 | 92 | 92 | 115 | 95 | 374 | 292 | 217 | 117 | 95 | 84 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Salcombe Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Salcombe provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Salcombe can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Salcombe 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 (Salcombe) 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 Salcombe 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.
Salcombe is 21 km (13 miles) from the city of Dartmouth. If you plan a holiday in South Devon, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dartmouth. Dartmouth has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











