Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, E swell with 53 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 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Well, folks, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window for Salcombe is looking like a total write-off. There's just no good surf on offer. The break itself is notoriously inconsistent and sheltered, and this forecast is proving that.
Right now, on Friday the 17th, we've got a tiny 1 ft easterly windswell with a 5-second period, cross-shore wind at 16 mph, and the water is sitting at 66°F – that's a whopping 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so you'll be swimming in a bathtub, not surfing. The combined energy is a measly 24, and it's all poor.
The next few days are the same story: tiny swell, poor winds, and the score is always zero. Saturday the 18th morning has a 2 ft NE swell but cross-shore wind, and the afternoon drops to 0.7 ft. Sunday the 19th sees a 3 ft swell but cross-on wind and lumpy conditions. It just keeps going – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – all poor. Even on Wednesday the 22nd morning we get a gentle offshore from the NW, but with only 1.0 ft of 10-second swell, it's not enough to do anything with.
We do get a bit more size rolling in on Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th. Monday morning shows 5 ft from the west with a 8-second period, 329 combined energy (moderate), and cross-offshore winds – clean looking. But the wave comment still says "poor surf conditions," and the score is zero. Tuesday morning the 28th has 5 ft west swell, 260 energy, and light offshore wind – again clean but no quality. The swell period is only 8 seconds, so it's windswell and won't have any power. By Wednesday the 29th it drops back to 3 ft and stays small through the end of the period.
The bottom line: even when there's some size, the combination of short period, wrong direction (optimum is S, but we're getting W or E), and the sheltered nature of the break means nothing lines up. There's a gap of over a week of truly flat conditions before the 5 ft shows up, but it's still not worth paddling out for. If you're desperate for a session, you might get a clean, glassy morning on the 28th with 5 ft and offshore wind, but it'll be short-period and weak. Honestly, this is one of those blank runs that's more normal for an inconsistent spot like this. Keep an eye on the forecasts – they can change, but right now, save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri night, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Sat night, light winds from the NNE by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | E 4 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 5 | 5 | 42 | 45 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:07AM3.85m | 10:19PM4.11m | 10:46AM3.70m | 10:57PM3.88m | 11:24AM3.51m | 11:35PM3.60m | 12:02PM3.31m | 00:13AM3.30m | 12:42PM3.11m | 00:57AM3.04m | 1:30PM2.94m | 1:50AM2.83m | 2:30PM2.83m | 3:01AM2.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:30PM0.21m | 4:00AM0.15m | 4:12PM0.43m | 4:41AM0.40m | 4:54PM0.70m | 5:23AM0.70m | 5:39PM0.99m | 6:09AM1.00m | 6:33PM1.26m | 7:07AM1.27m | 7:48PM1.46m | 8:28AM1.43m | 9:18PM1.50m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | ENE 4 | WNW 4 | W 8 | E 5 | E 5 | W 9 | W 8 | E 4 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | NW 4 | W 9 | E 4 | E 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | W 8 | W 8 | — | W 7 | W 10 | W 12 | E 4 | W 11 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | W 9 | — | W 9 | W 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | SW 5 | S 11 | — | W 10 | W 7 | — | W 11 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | — | E 4 | E 5 | ENE 5 | — | E 4 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | NNE 3 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 |
| kJ | 5 | — | 3 | 42 | 45 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 493 | 557 | 92 | 482 | 115 | 439 | 439 | 480 | 230 | 93 | 115 | 345 | 345 | 169 | 224 | 92 | 444 | 439 | 470 | 470 | 496 |
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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