Surf Forecasts:
Woolacombe surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, W swell with 67 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Woolacombe this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Woolacombe in the next 16 days are 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, and I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Woolacombe are a bit of a tough watch for proper surf. The swell window sees some action, but the wind is going to be a constant battle. Let’s run through it.
The forecast starts with barely a ripple. On Sunday the 19th, we’ve got tiny 0.3ft waves from the west with a long 11-second period, but the energy is weak (4). The morning sees a gentle offshore breeze from the ESE, making it clean, but there’s simply no power. Monday the 20th is similar, with 0.7ft clean surf in the morning thanks to an ENE offshore wind, but the swell’s still flat. We’re looking at a stretch of small, weak waves with poor surf conditions across the board, with wave energy staying below 20 through to the 25th.
The real standout in this whole period, and the only one I’d get excited about, is the morning of Friday the 24th. The swell is still tiny at 0.7ft, but the wind switches to a glassy 5 km/h offshore from the west. The water temperature is about average for the time of year. It’s a rare window of absolute calm. The low energy (8) means the wave quality is poor, but for a longboard or a SUP session, the clean conditions will make it feel far better than the numbers suggest. Coconut matting territory, but it’ll be smooth.
We then see a bit of a bump in the swell on Sunday the 26th, with 3ft to 4ft from the west-northwest, but the period is a short 6 seconds. The energy jumps to 73 and 96 (moderate), but the wind is howling onshore from the west at 15-18 mph. This is a messy, blown-out scenario. For a beach-and-reef setup like this, that combo is better suited for kite surfing than paddling.
The energy continues to build into the 28th, with a 3ft swell from the west and a 9-second period giving moderate energy of 128. The wind is cross-on from the northwest at 9 mph, making it choppy and lumpy. There’s a glimmer of hope on the morning of the 31st with a fresh offshore breeze from the east at 18 mph, hitting 2ft west swell. The energy is still low (16), but the wind will be ripping offshore, keeping the surface clean. Worth a look for the slim chance of a clean, rippable wave.
The final week stays poor, with onshore winds and messy conditions. This is a tough run for Woolacombe, folks. The one glassy morning on the 24th is your best bet for a clean, if tiny, session. Keep the board waxed, but don’t expect much size.
Stay frothy.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue night, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Wed night, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 10 | NW 3 | W 9 | W 18 | NNW 4 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:29AM8.59m | 10:46PM8.66m | 11:07AM8.15m | 11:25PM8.16m | 11:48AM7.67m | 00:07AM7.63m | 12:34PM7.21m | 00:58AM7.14m | 1:35PM6.87m | 2:04AM6.81m | 2:49PM6.78m | 3:20AM6.77m | 4:02PM7.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:15AM1.16m | 4:24PM1.41m | 4:52AM1.61m | 5:01PM1.85m | 5:28AM2.09m | 5:42PM2.32m | 6:10AM2.57m | 6:33PM2.76m | 7:06AM2.97m | 7:39PM3.07m | 8:19AM3.18m | 8:56PM3.12m | 9:36AM3.08m | 10:07PM2.89m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 3 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | — | W 7 | NW 4 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | W 15 | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | NW 5 | — | W 18 | W 8 | W 8 | — | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | — | — | — | — | W 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | NW 4 | NW 3 | ENE 2 | NNE 2 | — | — | — | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 4 | NW 3 | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | WNW 2 | W 3 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | 10 | 32 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 160 | 335 | 386 | 160 | 160 | 403 | 109 | 146 | 240 | 240 | 738 | 240 | 466 | 521 | 389 | 404 | 855 | 443 | 477 | 817 | 411 |
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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