
Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, W swell with 865 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Salcombe in the next 16 days are 1.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down this 16-day stretch for our local patch.
Overall Pattern
Right, to be honest, this is a tough run for the next couple of weeks at Salcombe. We've got some energy coming in, but the wind and swell quality are just not playing ball. There's a long period of poor conditions before we see anything that might get our hopes up, and even then, it's a gamble. Don't get excited too early.
The Outlook
We start off with a frustrating gap. There's really nothing worth paddling out for until Wednesday morning, the 16th of September. The wind is howling out of the WNW at around 15-18 mph, making a mess of what little swell there is.
Wednesday morning the 16th is the only real highlight on offer, and even then, it's just a glimmer. Swell hits 6 ft from the west, with a moderate offshore breeze. The combined swell energy is a solid moderate 555, and the period is a workable 10 seconds. It's a beginner-friendly size, and the offshore wind will keep the faces clean. It's the best we get, but don't expect perfection. The water here is 63°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Crowds are always a thing at Salcombe, so you won't be alone.
After that morning, it's back into the doldrums. Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th see the swell bump up to 6-6 ft, but the period drops into the short and weak zone, and cross-off winds ruin the shape. By Saturday the 19th, the energy is all gone, and we're scraping the bottom of the barrel.
There’s a real dead zone from Sunday the 20th all the way through Monday the 28th. The swell is small, weak, and the wind is predominantly cross-shore or cross-onshore, sometimes blowing a fresh breeze. The wave energy values are often below 200, which is just pathetic. Even when we get a glassy morning on the 21st, the swell is a tiny 2 ft.
Then, out of nowhere, on Saturday the 26th of September, a massive lump of energy shows up. We're looking at 6 ft swell from the WSW with a very long 17-second period, and the combined swell energy rockets up to 1813 – that's strong energy. Problem is, the wind is howling out of the east at 15 mph, straight onshore at Salcombe, turning it into a washing machine. This one will be a complete write-off for a surf, but if you're into kitesurfing, that setup might have a bit more appeal.
The rest of the run into October is small, weak, and plagued by onshore or cross-shore winds. The 29th of September brings a tiny 1 ft swell with a glassy morning, but there's just no power.
The Pick
If you're desperate, your one shot is Wednesday morning, the 16th of September. Head to Salcombe for a beginner-friendly 6 ft west swell with a clean, offshore wind. It's only a "good" score, but in this bleak forecast, it's the standout by a long shot. Everything else is either blown out, too small, or too far away.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue night, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Fri night, calm by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 6 | W 8 | W 10 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 7 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 12 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
185 | 297 | 396 | 555 | 564 | 426 | 284 | 378 | 573 | 865 | 862 | 141 | 186 | 381 | 279 | 234 | 225 | 146 | 90 | 136 | 106 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:40PM3.82m | 9:54AM3.70m | 10:09PM3.55m | 10:23AM3.45m | 10:40PM3.25m | 10:57AM3.18m | 11:20PM2.95m | 11:45AM2.91m | 00:18AM2.68m | 12:57PM2.70m | 1:46AM2.52m | 2:36PM2.67m | 3:38AM2.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:10PM0.17m | 3:26AM0.29m | 3:42PM0.43m | 3:56AM0.60m | 4:13PM0.74m | 4:27AM0.93m | 4:47PM1.09m | 5:01AM1.27m | 5:30PM1.43m | 5:50AM1.59m | 6:59PM1.72m | 8:14AM1.77m | 9:45PM1.62m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | — | W 8 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | — | W 12 | W 11 | — | W 10 | W 10 | S 14 | W 10 | W 10 | W 12 | W 10 |
37 | — | 265 | 555 | — | — | — | — | — | 865 | — | 141 | 39 | — | 279 | 234 | 4 | 146 | 90 | 136 | 106 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | — | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | W 12 | S 13 | S 13 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 49 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | — | S 13 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | W 11 | W 10 | W 6 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 13 | WSW 6 | W 7 | W 11 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | ESE 3 |
185 | 297 | 396 | — | 564 | 426 | 284 | 378 | 573 | 379 | 862 | 170 | 186 | 381 | — | — | 225 | — | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 217 | 217 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 169 | 446 | 498 | 151 | 217 | 223 | 439 | 223 | 223 | 146 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 84 | 115 | 83 |
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.










