Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 7s period, E swell with 730 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with SW 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 27) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Salcombe in the next 16 days are 2.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down what’s cooking for Salcombe in the next 16 days. I’ll be honest, it’s a proper dry spell for most of it. There’s a big gap of no-good surf from the start through the end of August, and into the first week of September. You’ll be waiting until the morning of Sunday the 6th of September for anything worth a mention.
The very first chance you get is on Saturday morning, the 29th of August. There’s a clean 7ft swell from the west with a moderate offshore breeze, but the energy is only moderate (565) and the period is a short 8 seconds. It’s a tease, really, because the afternoon gets messy again. Then on the 1st of September, Tuesday morning, we see a clean 4ft swell from the west-southwest with a moderate offshore wind and a 10-second period (276 energy). That’s clean but small, and it’s not a standout.
The one to get excited about is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September. We’ve got a 7ft groundswell from the west, period 9 seconds (714 energy – moderate to strong), with a gentle offshore breeze from the northwest. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the best of the whole run. The crowd profile says “always” at Salcombe, so it’ll be packed. The water temperature at the start of the period was 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. The swell direction is west, not exactly the optimum south, but with that clean offshore wind and solid energy, it’s your best shot. The size is a bit much for beginners, so it’s better for the crew who know what they’re doing.
After that, the 7th of September morning is clean but cross-on and lumpy. The rest of the period is blown out or flat. That’s the long and short of it.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 17°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Mon morning, light winds from the S by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | SSE 4 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | SW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
27 | 46 | 365 | 730 | 645 | 258 | 118 | 32 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 367 | 358 | 230 | 63 | 0 | 684 | 565 | 481 | 96 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 4:13AM2.61m | 4:59PM2.88m | 5:36AM2.86m | 5:56PM3.20m | 6:22AM3.16m | 6:36PM3.52m | 6:58AM3.43m | 7:10PM3.80m | 7:31AM3.67m | 7:42PM4.01m | 8:03AM3.85m | 8:13PM4.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:11PM1.55m | 10:32AM1.45m | 11:08PM1.28m | 11:20AM1.17m | 11:49PM0.96m | 11:58AM0.87m | 00:23AM0.64m | 12:31PM0.58m | 00:54AM0.35m | 1:02PM0.32m | 1:25AM0.10m | 1:34PM0.12m | 1:56AM-0.08m | |||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | E 5 | W 9 | SSW 4 | W 8 | ESE 4 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | W 7 |
27 | 39 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 19 | 35 | 19 | 25 | 13 | 18 | 4 | 358 | 230 | 63 | — | — | — | — | 96 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | SW 8 | SW 8 | W 8 | S 12 | W 7 | SW 11 | W 10 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 31 | 32 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 57 | 19 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 12 | W 8 | SW 13 | W 10 | E 5 | SSW 7 | S 12 | W 11 | W 11 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 9 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 6 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | E 4 | SSE 4 | SW 8 | — | — | — | SW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | SW 6 |
18 | 46 | 365 | 730 | 645 | 258 | 118 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 25 | 367 | — | — | — | 145 | 684 | 565 | 481 | 66 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 90 | 92 | 479 | 169 | 157 | 95 | 169 | 90 | 92 | 92 | 170 | 88 | 6 | 50 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 223 | 157 | 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.











