Surf Forecasts:
Salcombe surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, E swell with 712 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period with WSW 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 27) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Salcombe in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salcombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. The next couple of weeks around Salcombe are looking pretty grim for a proper surf. The finder is coming up empty, and honestly, the guidance backs that up. It’s one of those stretches where the ocean just doesn’t want to cooperate. The swell and wind are constantly fighting each other, and we’re left with a lot of chop and crumble. It’s a bit of a blank run, which happens here, but it doesn’t look like it’s gonna stay this way forever. The forecasts can shift.
Looking at the start of the period, through the coming days, it’s all pretty weak and messy. There’s a bit of swell on Friday the 21st, around 3ft from the west with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is cross-offshore in the morning, but the energy is weak, only about 145, and the call is poor surf. Saturday and Sunday have some waves, but the winds are all over the place and onshore, just chopping it all up. Nothing to get excited about.
We get a pulse of easterly windswell on Monday the 24th, with the swell jumping to 7ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, which could be fun for someone, but with a 28 mph onshore wind, it's going to be a complete mess. Not a surfer's wave. That’s a strong 624 in the energy department, but it’s wasted. The following days are a similar story, with onshore winds keeping things poor. The only time we see some clean conditions is later, but the swell is too small to be worth the paddle.
There is a notable bump on Friday the 28th of August, in the afternoon. The swell jumps to 10ft with period 8 seconds. That’s a heavy amount of energy, reading 1132 in the combined figures, and the wind is cross-offshore, which would normally get the heart racing. But the call is still poor surf conditions. This is a short-period, wind-driven swell, and at that size, it’s only for experts. If it wasn't for the rating, I'd say the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The long-range stuff in the second week is less reliable, and nothing really shouts standout. We'll see some moderate pulses on the 30th and 31st, with 7ft swells, but the winds keep it junky. The glassy conditions on Thursday the 3rd of September with light winds will be nice, but the swell has all but disappeared, only 0.3ft. It’s a quiet end to the window.
Honestly, the best of a bad bunch looks like the Saturday the 29th of August morning, with a 5ft west swell and clean, cross-offshore winds. It won't be world-class, but it should be the most rideable we get. Then again, it's still not a high recommendation. Don't get your hopes too high for this one. This is a a real dud, so maybe work on your pop-ups.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the E by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon afternoon, calm by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 6 | E 6 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | WSW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
91 | 33 | 45 | 27 | 25 | 13 | 39 | 62 | 354 | 675 | 712 | 182 | 52 | 32 | 52 | 86 | 230 | 284 | 365 | 183 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:56AM2.73m | 1:35PM2.72m | 2:16AM2.57m | 3:13PM2.68m | 4:13AM2.61m | 4:59PM2.88m | 5:36AM2.86m | 5:56PM3.20m | 6:22AM3.16m | 6:36PM3.52m | 6:58AM3.43m | 7:10PM3.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:58AM0.87m | 00:23AM0.64m | 12:31PM0.58m | 00:54AM0.35m | |||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 13 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | E 6 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | — | S 12 |
91 | 33 | 45 | 27 | 25 | 13 | 26 | 39 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 27 | 52 | 32 | 52 | 86 | 58 | 284 | — | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 4 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 9 | W 10 | SW 9 | E 5 | W 9 | WSW 6 | SW 12 | S 12 | — | — |
— | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 36 | 11 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 3 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | — | S 12 | SW 12 | — | — | W 10 | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 12 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | E 4 | W 8 | — | S 12 | — | — |
7 | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 27 | 3 | 21 | — | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 3 | ENE 4 | E 5 | ENE 4 | E 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 6 | SSE 4 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 7 | — | W 8 | WSW 7 |
— | 1 | 28 | 21 | 6 | 10 | 39 | 62 | 354 | 675 | 712 | 182 | 3 | 2 | 15 | — | 230 | — | 365 | 183 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 24 | 152 | 90 | 83 | 137 | 24 | 95 | 90 | 92 | 482 | 169 | 179 | 169 | 104 | 92 | 156 | 118 | 6 | 315 | 338 |
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.











