Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, WSW swell with 1,981 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Salcombe this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Salcombe in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10PM. 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 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m looking at the forecast for Salcombe, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim run for the next couple of weeks. The water’s sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s working in our favour.
We’ve got a long stretch of nothing on the cards. From now through the end of August and into the first week of September, it’s just a write-off. The wind is howling from the wrong directions, mostly onshore or cross-shore and strong, and the swell is messy. Even when the swell shows up, like on the 28th of August with a 7ft swell from the WSW, the wind is a nasty 28 mph cross-off, which sounds clean on paper but the energy is massive (408) and the conditions are just poor. A couple of days later, on the 31st of August, there’s a 8ft swell from the WSW with a 9-second period, and the energy is pumping (1016), but the wind is 19 mph and it’s still rated as poor. It’s just not coming together.
Honestly, the only flicker of hope I can see is on Saturday, the 5th of September. The morning is looking like a real standout. The wind is light and offshore from the NNW, only 3 mph, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the west with a nice 11-second period. The energy is solid (606) and the conditions are actually flagged as “expect good surf.” That’s the one. For a sheltered spot like Salcombe, that light offshore wind and long-period groundswell from the west will be a dream. It’s not too big for the average surfer, and with that period, the gaps between sets will make paddling out a breeze. The only bummer is that the crowds are always a problem here, so expect company.
After that, it’s back to the same old story. The wind picks up again through the second week, and the swell gets lumpy and choppy. The 10th of September has a 7ft swell from the WSW with a 10-second period and a massive 992 energy, but the wind is a cross-shore 19 mph from the NE, and it’s messy. Not worth suiting up for.
So, bottom line: the whole 16-day window is a bust except for that one morning on the 5th of September. If you’re determined, that’s your window. Otherwise, it’s a lot of wind and not much else.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Wed morning, strong winds from the SSW by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 8 | E 5 | ESE 5 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | S 11 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 21 | 51 | 49 | 44 | 81 | 3 | 457 | 277 | 777 | 1638 | 1678 | 826 | 684 | 1429 | 1121 | 845 | 363 | 351 | 315 | 234 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:36PM3.52m | 6:58AM3.43m | 7:10PM3.80m | 7:31AM3.67m | 7:42PM4.01m | 8:03AM3.85m | 8:13PM4.15m | 8:33AM3.96m | 8:43PM4.19m | 9:04AM3.99m | 9:14PM4.15m | 9:34AM3.94m | 9:46PM4.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:07PM-0.01m | 2:28AM-0.16m | 2:40PM-0.05m | 3:01AM-0.14m | 3:16PM0.01m | 3:37AM0.00m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | ESE 5 | SW 7 | W 9 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 9 | — | — | — | W 9 | WSW 10 | — | S 17 | W 8 |
| kJ | 25 | 21 | 18 | 49 | 44 | 15 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 826 | — | — | — | 845 | 363 | — | 6 | 177 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SW 5 | E 5 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 |
| kJ | 8 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | SSW 7 | SW 12 | W 8 | SE 5 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 |
| kJ | 14 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | E 5 | E 5 | — | — | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 8 | WSW 10 | — | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | — | — | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 7 | 51 | — | — | 81 | 139 | 457 | 277 | 777 | 1638 | 1678 | — | 684 | 1429 | 1121 | — | — | 351 | 315 | 234 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 94 | 250 | 269 | 29 | 119 | 91 | 318 | 157 | 85 | 511 | 169 | 157 | 146 | 250 | 223 | 73 | 50 | 95 | 439 | 169 | 157 |
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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