
Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period, W swell with 229 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Salcombe this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Salcombe in the next 16 days are 1.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wettie and let’s talk about what’s happening at home. Rusty here, and honestly, the next couple of weeks are going to test your patience more than your paddle stamina. The swell window is looking pretty poor for the most part, with only tiny waves on offer.
We’ve got a dry spell to start. The 8th and 9th are total write-offs with just 0.7ft of swell and no push. The following few days, through the 10th and 11th, improve a touch but are still pants, with only 1ft on Monday and building to 4ft by Tuesday afternoon. That Tuesday afternoon pulse has a bit more energy behind it – we're talking moderate (121) – and the swell direction shifts to the east, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy.
The real tease comes mid-week. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th see the energy jump into the 150-225 range, which is moderate, but the waves stay small at around 2-3ft. We’re also getting some better period readings on Thursday around 10 seconds. It’s cleaner, but honestly, it’s still small and weak. Nothing to get excited about, my friend.
Then we hit a proper flat spell. From Sunday the 16th through Tuesday the 19th, it’s gutless. Swell heights drop to 0.3-2ft, and while you get a bit of a long-period pulse (16 seconds) on Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, it’s for nothing. That energy just fizzles out. On the 19th, we get a light offshore wind, but the wave is a whisper at 0.3ft. You could paddle out with a longboard and still not catch a ripple.
Things look a little more hopeful as we head into the second week, but it's still not on. On Thursday the 20th, we finally see some size, with 4ft in the morning and back to 3ft in the afternoon. It’s more of the same clean cross-off wind but with a short 8-second period. The energy is moderate (around 177-220), but the waves will be crumbly.
And that’s about it, folks. This whole 16-day window is a full-on dud. There are no proper standout days, no sessions you’ll be telling your mates about. We’re stuck in a pattern of small, weak surf, and with that, the water temp is running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at about 65°. That’s a small silver lining, I guess.
Unless this forecast changes, I’d keep your board in the car just in case, but don’t go out of your way. The setup at Salcombe is looking far more interesting for the kite surfers than for us. For us, it’s a blank run, but that’s how it goes sometimes. The surf’s been quiet before, and it’ll fire up again. But not this week, and not next week either.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 7 | E 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 104 | 66 | 107 | 96 | 108 | 110 | 212 | 228 | 103 | 157 | 49 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:57AM3.01m | 3:51PM3.15m | 4:43AM3.10m | 5:22PM3.41m | 6:03AM3.38m | 6:26PM3.77m | 6:59AM3.67m | 7:16PM4.08m | 7:44AM3.89m | 7:58PM4.29m | 8:25AM4.03m | 8:37PM4.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:36PM1.16m | 9:18AM1.09m | 10:06PM0.98m | 10:35AM0.89m | 11:13PM0.65m | 11:34AM0.59m | 00:07AM0.31m | 12:24PM0.30m | 00:54AM0.02m | 1:08PM0.08m | 1:37AM-0.16m | 1:49PM-0.04m | 2:16AM-0.22m | |||||||
— | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 29 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | ESE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 6 | W 8 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 73 | 96 | 108 | 110 | 212 | 228 | 103 | 99 | 49 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 4 | W 6 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 6 | W 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | — | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | — | — | — |
2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 25 | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 7 | SW 7 | WSW 6 | SW 12 | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | — | — | — | W 11 | — | ENE 4 | — | — | — |
2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | 63 | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | — | — | WSW 3 | WNW 4 | — | — | — | E 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 5 | — | WSW 3 | WNW 5 | WNW 3 | W 9 | W 4 |
4 | — | — | 4 | 11 | — | — | — | 20 | 104 | 66 | 107 | 56 | 33 | — | 3 | 28 | 4 | 157 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 120 | 115 | 494 | 216 | 216 | 111 | 216 | 95 | 480 | 216 | 66 | 83 | 83 | 24 | 6 | 169 | 1 | 24 | 169 | 150 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Devon | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











