
Surf Forecasts:
Woolacombe surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, W swell with 1,486 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Woolacombe this week:
The surf forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Woolacombe in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be honest with you, looking at the charts for Woolacombe, it’s a bit of a bum steer for the next week and a half. The pattern is mostly about waiting for the wind to clean up and the swell to make sense, but mostly it’s a whole lot of lumpy, onshore slop. There’s a real gap in quality here; we're looking at a long stretch of "not today, mate."
Wednesday 9th kicks things off, and it’s a write-off. We’ve got 4ft swell from the west, period only 8 seconds, with a cross-onshore 12 mph breeze chopping everything up. The wave energy is moderate at best (224), but the quality is poor. The water temp is a whopping 66°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—a solid 5° above average, so you could get away with a spring suit, but the wave quality just isn’t there.
Thursday 10th is worse, with strong southwesterlies hitting 22 mph. There is a 5ft swell afternoon, but that period drops to a short 6 seconds and it's crossed-up and lumpy. Wave energy hits 194 but it’s messy.
Friday 11th stays onshore, with waist-high 4ft swell and a gentle but wrong-direction breeze. Not your day.
Saturday 12th is a write-off with 19-22 mph cross-onshore winds. The 6ft swell is just blown-out froth.
Sunday 13th shows some promise, with clean 5ft swell from the west, 10-second period, and onshore 9 mph winds, but it’s still just "poor surf conditions." Wave energy gets to 379, so there’s push, but the shape isn’t there for a good wave.
The best of the entire run looks to be Tuesday 15th. The wave comment finally changes to "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." We’ve got 4ft from the southwest with a 7-second period in the afternoon, but the wind goes glassy at 3 mph from the ESE. That’s your window for clean, if not exactly pumping, waves. Wave energy is 143, so it's moderate. It’s still not a standout by any stretch, but it's the only window that's not getting smashed by wind.
After that, Wednesday 16th throws a real wildcard. An 8ft west swell rolls in, but with a short 8-9 second period and strong north winds. That kind of size and onshore wind makes Woolacombe a mess—more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle-surfing one. The combined energy is a massive 1057, but it’s all power with no shape.
Thursday 17th onwards is a slow fade back to small, weak, and cross-onshore conditions all the way out to the end of the month. Nothing else worth paddling out for, really. A big dry spell after that window on the 15th.
So, if you’re itching for a paddle, keep an eye on the glassy window Tuesday afternoon the 15th. Bring a board you don’t mind working hard on.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Wed night, fresh winds from the SW by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat morning, light winds from the SW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 8 | WSW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 7 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
224 | 133 | 63 | 19 | 192 | 495 | 300 | 194 | 112 | 80 | 285 | 246 | 379 | 225 | 139 | 110 | 106 | 94 | 80 | 103 | 881 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:47PM8.86m | 6:16AM8.95m | 6:34PM9.39m | 6:59AM9.34m | 7:16PM9.65m | 7:38AM9.48m | 7:54PM9.66m | 8:13AM9.41m | 8:28PM9.46m | 8:45AM9.18m | 8:59PM9.11m | 9:15AM8.82m | 9:28PM8.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:32AM1.57m | 00:03AM1.13m | 12:19PM1.02m | 00:47AM0.73m | 12:59PM0.70m | 1:26AM0.59m | 1:36PM0.61m | 2:00AM0.65m | 2:08PM0.71m | 2:29AM0.88m | 2:37PM0.96m | 2:55AM1.22m | 3:04PM1.32m | 3:19AM1.64m | |||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | |
— | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 28 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 19 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 25 | 25 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 8 | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | — | W 9 | W 8 | W 11 | — |
224 | 133 | 63 | 19 | 2 | 495 | 300 | 194 | 112 | 46 | — | 52 | 379 | 225 | 139 | 110 | — | 94 | 80 | 20 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | W 13 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | W 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | W 11 | W 11 | — |
— | 49 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 10 | 20 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 5 | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | WSW 9 | — | SSE 2 | SW 7 | W 8 |
— | — | — | 17 | 192 | — | — | — | — | 80 | 285 | 246 | — | — | — | — | 106 | — | 1 | 103 | 881 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 43 | 43 | 56 | 222 | 258 | 23 | 12 | 69 | 57 | 90 | 276 | 94 | 41 | 64 | 49 | 78 | 140 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Devon | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Woolacombe Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Woolacombe provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Woolacombe can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Woolacombe 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 (Woolacombe) 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 Woolacombe 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.
Woolacombe is 14 km (9 miles) from Appledore. If you plan a holiday in North Devon, look for hotels and other accommodation in Appledore. Appledore has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










