Surf Forecasts:
Woolacombe surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, W swell with 866 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with WSW 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what’s on the cards for Woolacombe over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a pretty grim start. We’ve got a long, dry spell to get through first. The surf is going to be tiny and mostly blown out for the best part of a week, from now all the way through to the 28th of August. There are a couple of mornings with clean, offshore winds, but the swell is just pathetic, barely pushing 1 foot. It’s not worth getting wet for.
The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Friday morning, the 28th of August. We finally get some waist-high swell rolling in, around 3 feet from the WSW, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE making things look clean. The wave energy is still pretty modest (167), but it’s the first time the conditions line up for a proper surf. The period is a short 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and lack real punch, but it’s surfable. This is a beach and reef setup, and while it’s not going to win any awards, it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.
The rest of that weekend and into the following week is a write-off. Strong onshore winds and messy, blown-out conditions dominate from the 29th right through the 31st. There’s a moment on Monday afternoon, the 31st of August, where the wind drops to glassy and we get some clean, knee-high waves. It’s small, but it’s the most peaceful session you could ask for if you just want to bob around.
Looking further out, things don’t get much better. We see a pulse of bigger swell pushing 5 to 7 feet on the 3rd and 6th of September, but the wind is all wrong – onshore or cross-onshore – making for a choppy, blown-out mess. The wave energy gets up there (over 1000 on the 6th), but without the right wind, it’s just a washing machine. That kind of size and poor quality would actually be more appealing to kite surfers than paddle surfers.
So, if you’re desperate, your best bet is the morning of Friday, 28th August. Otherwise, this forecast is a real bummer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 23°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 Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | SW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 5 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 21 | 10 | 41 | 64 | 111 | 165 | 105 | 866 | 419 | 422 | 514 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 3:35PM6.63m | 4:09AM6.66m | 4:41PM7.19m | 5:06AM7.23m | 5:28PM7.77m | 5:49AM7.78m | 6:07PM8.28m | 6:26AM8.24m | 6:43PM8.69m | 7:01AM8.61m | 7:17PM9.00m | 7:34AM8.88m | 7:52PM9.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:06AM3.53m | 9:45PM3.23m | 10:21AM3.06m | 10:46PM2.69m | 11:12AM2.50m | 11:32PM2.15m | 11:52AM2.00m | 00:11AM1.69m | 12:28PM1.59m | 00:46AM1.33m | 1:01PM1.29m | 1:20AM1.07m | 1:33PM1.10m | 1:53AM0.92m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 17 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 14 | 6 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 21 | 10 | 41 | 11 | 111 | 165 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 14 | — | W 9 | SW 9 | SW 13 | W 11 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 4 | SW 7 | SW 4 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 18 | — | 6 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 29 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 13 | W 13 | SW 8 | — | — | — | W 12 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 8 | — | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | ESE 3 | SSE 2 | SSW 2 | — | S 3 | SW 6 | — | — | WSW 5 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 7 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | 64 | — | — | 105 | 866 | 419 | 422 | 514 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 91 | 83 | 40 | 402 | 276 | 268 | 91 | 135 | 91 | 92 | 420 | 107 | 81 | 104 | 14 | 0 | 94 | 41 | 441 | 279 | 279 |
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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