Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, W swell with 509 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Salcombe this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Salcombe in the next 16 days are 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same forecast for Salcombe, but in feet and miles per hour, the way some of you old salts like it.
It’s a lean stretch of surf ahead, plain and simple. The whole 16-day window is littered with "poor surf conditions" warnings, so don’t get your hopes up too high. The first real chance of a wave doesn’t come until Wednesday, August 5th. That’s a few days of quiet water to start.
Water temp is running about 65°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Nothing crazy, but it’s nice.
The standout is Wednesday, August 5th. Early morning, we’re looking at a 7ft swell from the W, with a 8-second period. The combined energy is moderate to strong. Wind is a fresh cross-offshore breeze out of the W at 19 mph, keeping the surface clean. That’s a solid wave, but at 7ft, it’s only for the experienced crew. By afternoon, it drops a bit to 6ft, still clean, still with that fresh cross-off wind. For a sheltered spot like Salcombe, this is the best you’ll see all period.
Thursday the 6th fades fast. Morning swell is down to 3ft with a weak 6-second period, energy dropping. Wind is cross-off from the WNW, so it’s clean, but there’s no power. By afternoon, it’s a flat 0.3ft.
From Friday the 7th through Tuesday the 11th, it’s small stuff. Mostly 1.0ft to 1ft waves. Friday morning does have glassy conditions, which is a real tease, but you’d need a log and a lot of hope. Energy is minimal.
We get a little pulse on the 12th and 13th. Thursday the 13th is the next best bet – a 2ft swell from the WSW with a 9-second period, and finally, proper offshore winds from the NNW at 9-16 mph. Energy is moderate. The conditions are clean, but it’s small. Still, a clean 2ft with offshore wind is a fun little wave.
The tail end of the run, from the 15th to the 18th, is a rougher story. The 15th afternoon has a 5ft swell but onshore wind, so it’s messy. Sunday the 16th afternoon has a 7ft swell from the W with a 9-second period and strong energy, but the wind is cross-onshore, so expect chop.
So, here’s the takeaway: Wednesday the 5th is your best shot, and it’s a solid one for the experts. After that, the 13th is worth a look if you’re on a longboard and the wind holds. For the rest, it’s a quiet, inconsistent forecast for a spot that’s already known for being fickle. Keep your eyes on the sky – things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 12 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 7 | W 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 73 | 73 | 53 | 187 | 178 | 319 | 509 | 365 | 150 | 80 | 6 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 36 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 10:06AM3.71m | 10:14PM3.91m | 10:39AM3.64m | 10:49PM3.77m | 11:16AM3.52m | 11:30PM3.58m | 12:01PM3.37m | 00:21AM3.35m | 12:58PM3.21m | 1:27AM3.13m | 2:13PM3.10m | 2:57AM3.01m | 3:51PM3.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:39PM0.26m | 4:03AM0.17m | 4:17PM0.38m | 4:43AM0.33m | 5:00PM0.57m | 5:28AM0.57m | 5:51PM0.82m | 6:25AM0.85m | 7:01PM1.06m | 7:44AM1.08m | 8:36PM1.16m | 9:18AM1.09m | 10:06PM0.98m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:45 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | S 13 | SW 13 | S 13 | W 10 | SW 12 | W 10 | WSW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 6 | WSW 7 | W 6 |
| kJ | 73 | 73 | 53 | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 36 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 9 | SW 12 | W 6 | W 5 | S 11 | SW 11 | WSW 7 | W 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 17 | 23 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 | S 12 | — | SW 11 | S 11 | — | — | W 9 | S 12 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | 14 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 2 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 4 | W 6 | — | WSW 6 | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 3 | W 4 | — | WSW 4 | NNW 2 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 187 | 178 | 319 | 509 | 365 | 150 | 80 | 46 | 24 | — | 17 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | — | 12 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 94 | 90 | 95 | 269 | 451 | 271 | 753 | 169 | 216 | 489 | 217 | 446 | 463 | 323 | 117 | 484 | 107 | 83 | 92 | 165 |
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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