Surf Forecasts:
Woolacombe surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, W swell with 368 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Woolacombe this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Woolacombe in the next 16 days are 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’. I’m Rusty, and I’ve got the goods on Woolacombe. Straight up, this is a grim stretch ahead. The next couple of weeks are looking like a proper write-off, with barely a ripple worth getting wet for.
We’re starting with a lumpy, blown-out mess on Thursday, the 20th of August. A fresh 19 mph cross-onshore wind is smashing into a 5ft swell from the west, and the water’s gonna be a jumbled battlefield. The combined energy is a weak 338, so don’t waste your time. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Friday the 21st is no better. A bit smaller, still cross-shore and choppy. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd see the swell drop right off – we’re talking 1ft and 1ft. The wind does go offshore and clean, but there’s just no energy. The combined energy is a paltry 41 and 22. You’d be better off on a SUP than a surfboard.
Then we hit a real dead zone. From Monday the 24th all the way through to the end of the month, it’s a flat spell. The combined energy readings are in the single digits and teens. Yes, we get some clean offshore winds, but the swell is barely a push. This is a proper gap of about a week with nothing to recommend.
The only flicker of interest comes on the 30th of August. The Sunday afternoon sees a 7ft swell from the WSW, with a moderate cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy jumps to 549, which is moderate. But the period is only 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit fat and crumbly. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but that’s not saying much. Even then, the wind is from the south, which is a cross-off for Woolacombe, so it might be clean enough for a go, but it’s not a standout.
Things get a bit bigger but seriously ugly at the start of September. The 31st of August has a 10ft swell from the west, but it’s pushing 19 mph cross-onshore winds. That’s over 8ft, so it’s only for experts, and the onshore wind will make it a churning, closed-out mess. The combined energy is a massive 1403, but it’s all for nothing. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, honestly.
The outlook then fades out again into the first week of September, with small, onshore, and messy conditions. There’s just nothing to get excited about.
So, to be blunt: this is a blank run. Woolacombe is a fairly consistent spot, so it’s a bit of a shocker, but this is one of those periods where you just have to wait for a better forecast. The forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing on offer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed night, light winds from the NNW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Sat night, strong winds from the E by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 13 | W 8 | WSW 9 | SW 4 | WSW 5 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 243 | 229 | 59 | 66 | 94 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 30 | 29 | 49 | 127 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | off | cross | cross | off | cross | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:33AM7.18m | 11:54PM6.94m | 12:28PM6.65m | 1:01AM6.42m | 1:59PM6.38m | 2:41AM6.29m | 3:35PM6.63m | 4:09AM6.66m | 4:41PM7.19m | 5:06AM7.23m | 5:28PM7.77m | 5:49AM7.78m | 6:07PM8.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:06AM2.63m | 5:29PM2.87m | 5:54AM3.20m | 6:38PM3.39m | 7:20AM3.61m | 8:18PM3.55m | 9:06AM3.53m | 9:45PM3.23m | 10:21AM3.06m | 10:46PM2.69m | 11:12AM2.50m | 11:32PM2.15m | 11:52AM2.00m | 00:11AM1.69m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | |  | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SW 15 | W 7 | W 8 | SW 13 | NW 4 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | ENE 3 | W 10 | W 9 | SSW 9 | W 7 |
| kJ | 83 | 8 | 43 | 66 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 127 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | W 14 | W 9 | SW 13 | W 16 | WSW 8 | NNW 6 | SW 15 | NNW 3 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 10 | SW 9 | SW 13 | SW 8 | W 8 | — | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 |
| kJ | 8 | 4 | 59 | 7 | 5 | 23 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | — | SW 14 | W 16 | W 13 | W 6 | SW 15 | W 12 | SW 15 | — | SW 11 | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 8 | SW 13 | SW 8 | W 13 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | — | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 8 | — | 5 | — | 8 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 3 | ESE 3 | WSW 9 | SW 4 | WSW 5 | — |
| kJ | 243 | 229 | 29 | 19 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 29 | 49 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 466 | 279 | 41 | 43 | 239 | 47 | 6 | 83 | 41 | 78 | 146 | 6 | 402 | 98 | 281 | 239 | 119 | 92 | 239 | 139 | 43 |
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.
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