Surf Forecasts:
Woolacombe surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, W swell with 1,039 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 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Woolacombe.
The water is sitting at 67°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s proper unusual, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit.
The first week is a tough one for any decent surf. The whole pattern is messy, with strong onshore or cross-shore winds and lumpy, blown-out conditions. From Saturday 29 August right through to the following Saturday 5 September, it’s a write-off. The swell is there at times, especially on Monday 31 August morning when the combined energy hits 859 (moderate to strong), with swell around 8ft from the west, but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, so it’s just a messy, bumpy wall. Not worth paddling out for. That kind of size and onshore wind will be more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
From Sunday 6 September morning, the swell drops right off, with combined energy down to 77 (weak) and a light cross-shore. Still not great.
The real standout is Monday 7 September morning. That’s your best bet. We get a clean 6ft swell from the west, with a period of 10 seconds, and the magic happens: glassy conditions. The wind is a light northerly breeze, zilch on the water. Combined energy is 544 (moderate to strong). For Woolacombe, that’s a clean, fun wave, especially for beginners and intermediates. The swell direction from the west is a good match for the optimum WNW. The only thing is, the afternoon turns cross-on again, so make the most of the morning.
After that, Tuesday 8 September is ordinary, but Wednesday 9 September morning offers a small clean window – 4ft from the west with a moderate offshore breeze from the ESE, so the waves will be clean but small (combined energy 112, weak). It’s surfable but nothing special.
From Thursday 10 September onwards, it’s back to tiny, weak, and mostly blown out – combined energy stays under 100, with strong onshore winds. A real flat spell to finish the 16 days.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout, and the second week has one clean morning on Monday 7 September. That’s the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sat morning, strong winds from the NW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSW on Tue morning, strong winds from the W by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 77 | 150 | 554 | 288 | 383 | 773 | 859 | 556 | 267 | 158 | 151 | 61 | 312 | 709 | 643 | 470 | 453 | 410 | 246 | 200 | 173 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 11:13AM7.71m | 11:48PM7.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:45AM2.25m | 5:10PM2.56m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — |
mm | 11 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 9 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 18 | W 8 | — | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 372 | 288 | — | — | — | — | 267 | 158 | 6 | 12 | — | — | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 40 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 15 | — | SW 14 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | — | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | W 9 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 |
| kJ | 77 | 150 | 554 | — | 383 | 773 | 859 | 556 | — | — | 151 | 61 | 312 | 709 | 643 | 470 | 453 | 410 | 246 | 200 | 173 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 437 | 228 | 45 | 23 | 352 | 619 | 316 | 184 | 23 | 90 | 90 | 279 | 420 | 475 | 274 | 279 | 855 | 341 | 561 | 316 | 64 |
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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