Surf Forecasts:
Woolacombe surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, W swell with 1,146 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Woolacombe this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Woolacombe in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let's have a look at what Woolacombe's got cookin' for us over the next sixteen days.
Straight off the bat, I gotta be honest with you, this stretch looks like a bit of a heartbreaker. The first week is a write-off with onshore winds and messy conditions, and while there’s some decent swell on the horizon, the wind just won’t play ball for clean waves. The water temp is a wild one – at 67°F it’s 6°F warmer than usual for this time of year, which is pretty unusual.
We kick off with nothing for Friday the 28th – that 5ft WSW swell (119 combined energy) is there, but a 22 mph onshore wind just ruins it. It's a no-go. This poor pattern sticks right through the weekend and into Monday the 31st. Even though the swell picks up to 7ft from the west on Monday morning (828 energy), the wind is still onshore. The waves will be blown out.
Now, there's a brief glimmer on Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd with lighter onshore winds, and you might find a cleaner 3ft wave in the mornings. But the energy is low (around 70-94). The standout window, on paper, is Sunday the 30th of August, when we see a 5ft WSW swell with a 9-second period and 295 energy, but again, it's accompanied by a cross-shore breeze making it choppy.
Later in the week, things get worse before they get better. Thursday the 3rd brings a solid 6ft west swell (511 energy) but it's pinned by a strong cross-onshore wind. It’s one for the kite surfers, not for paddlers. Friday the 4th sees a bit of a drop off.
The second week is a real mixed bag of small, weak swells and messy winds. There's a tiny window on the morning of Monday the 7th with a 3ft west swell and a light onshore breeze, but it's only a 5-second period – not much push. The energy is low at 68.
Overall, if you’re desperate for a session, the best bet is probably Saturday the 30th of August, but you’ll be battling a cross-shore chop. For the rest, it’s a blank run. Forecasts can change, but right now, this coast is getting a rough hand.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sat morning, strong winds from the SW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed night, min 16°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue night, fresh winds from the SW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 119 | 97 | 85 | 38 | 117 | 592 | 295 | 361 | 1043 | 828 | 739 | 356 | 153 | 88 | 61 | 49 | 141 | 807 | 494 | 339 | 326 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:17PM9.00m | 7:34AM8.88m | 7:52PM9.21m | 8:08AM9.05m | 8:26PM9.30m | 8:42AM9.08m | 9:00PM9.23m | 9:15AM8.96m | 9:35PM9.00m | 9:49AM8.69m | 10:11PM8.60m | 10:27AM8.26m | 10:53PM8.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:01PM1.29m | 1:20AM1.07m | 1:33PM1.10m | 1:53AM0.92m | 2:04PM1.01m | 2:25AM0.90m | 2:35PM1.04m | 2:56AM1.02m | 3:06PM1.21m | 3:28AM1.29m | 3:40PM1.51m | 4:03AM1.70m | 4:18PM1.97m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — |
mm | 2 | — | 6 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 13 | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 15 |
| kJ | — | — | 52 | 38 | 117 | 592 | 295 | 256 | — | — | — | 356 | 153 | 88 | 61 | 11 | — | — | 9 | 9 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 18 | W 16 | SW 16 | — | — | SW 15 | — | SW 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | 6 | 5 | 10 | — | — | 8 | — | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | S 3 | — | — | — | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 119 | 97 | 85 | 5 | — | — | — | 361 | 1043 | 828 | 739 | — | — | — | — | 49 | 141 | 807 | 494 | 339 | 326 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 310 | 373 | 255 | 228 | 40 | 64 | 23 | 352 | 124 | 608 | 69 | 23 | 44 | 316 | 236 | 316 | 459 | 279 | 279 | 323 | 184 |
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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