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: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, W swell with 544 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 1.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 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 | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what Salcombe’s got cooking over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch for most of it. We’re looking at a long, frustrating gap before anything really gets going.
The next week is a write-off, plain and simple. From now through to around the 30th of August, it’s just one poor surf condition after another. Swell windows come and go, but the wind is an absolute mess – mostly cross or cross-off, sometimes strong, and it just chops everything up. There’s a bit of energy on the 20th with a 6ft west swell, but the wind is howling at 19 mph, so it’s junk. Same story around the 24th – a 7ft easterly groundswell shows up, but it’s pinned with a nasty 22 mph cross-onshore and a messy chop you don’t want to paddle into. The water temp is sitting at 66°F and running a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, which is nice, but not enough to save this week from being a total dud.
The saving grace, and the one true standout, lands right on the 31st of August into the 1st of September. Monday morning the 31st is your best shot. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell out of the WSW with a long 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the WNW at a manageable 19 mph – that’s clean, clean, clean. Wave energy is cooking with a value of 1434, so there’s proper power behind it. This is a big swell though, over 8ft, so it’s for the experienced crew only – this isn’t beginner territory. The main break here is Salcombe (Devon, United Kingdom). With that long-period groundswell, it’s going to peel nicely with shape, but at a beach setup it might be a bit straight – you’ll want to work the banks. Expect crowds, because anywhere with clean, head-high plus swell this time of year gets busy. The 1st of September keeps that energy going with a 8ft swell and lighter cross-off winds, a solid runner-up for the Tuesday morning session.
Beyond that, it fades again. 2nd and 3rd of September drop off to smaller, weaker swells with mixed winds. If you can, your whole window boils down to that last day of August and first day of September. It’s been a long wait, but that’s the one. Stay keen.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the ENE by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | W 8 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 52 | 10 | 202 | 455 | 544 | 332 | 157 | 90 | 34 | 45 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 65 | 58 | 33 | 12 | 68 |
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 | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
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 | 4:52PM0.84m | 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 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 5 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | W 10 |
| kJ | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 332 | 157 | 90 | 11 | 45 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 58 | 33 | 15 | 68 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 8 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 4 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | E 5 |
| kJ | 10 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 34 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | — | SW 13 | S 12 | SW 12 | — | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | — | SW 13 | W 11 | W 10 | SW 13 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 7 | 3 | 6 | — | — | 8 | 8 | — | — | 7 | 2 | 8 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 5 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | N 3 | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | NNE 2 | ENE 4 | E 5 | — | — | — | WSW 3 |
| kJ | 52 | 89 | 202 | 455 | 544 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 65 | — | — | — | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 217 | 169 | 498 | 179 | 157 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 107 | 84 | 115 | 92 | 92 | 480 | 115 | 396 | 509 | 252 | 135 | 169 | 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.
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