Surf Forecasts:
Woolacombe surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, W swell with 725 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with W 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 2.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolacombe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Well, I’ll be honest with you, looking at the next couple of weeks for Woolacombe... it’s a bit of a tough stretch. The water is currently sitting at 67°F which feels much warmer than usual for this time of year, which is a nice surprise for your skin, but the surf quality just isn’t matching that warmth. We’ve got a fair bit of swell on the way, with moderate wave energy (840) on Monday the 31st, around 7ft from the W, but that cross-on wind from the NW at 22 mph is going to blow things right out. It’s messy. That same story keeps up for most of the first week – plenty of swell between 3ft and 7ft, but the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, keeping conditions poor. There’s a gap of several days here where I just can’t point you to anything worth paddling out for. The combined energy drops right off mid-week, down to double digits (94) on Wednesday the 2nd, which is barely a ripple, and the period is a short 6 seconds.
We do have a couple of flickers of hope, but they’re at the back end. On Tuesday the 8th of September, early morning, we get some light WNW wind at only 6 mph and a 4ft swell with a long period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (375). The comment says “marginal surf,” but that glassy wind and that period means there could be a clean, lined-up wave if the tide plays ball. That’s your best opportunity in the whole 16-day window, and it’s a genuine standout for being the only real chance at clean conditions. It’s a beach-and-reef setup, and with a long period swell like that, the reef sections might hold up better than the sandbanks. Still, this is more than a week away, so keep your fingers crossed.
After that, the wind jumps back onshore and it gets ugly again. By the 15th of September, we’re looking at a big 10ft swell with near gale-force winds (31 mph) smashing it. The combined energy is a massive 1312, but that’s for the kite surfers, not for us. Don’t bother with a paddle board that day.
So, to be blunt: there’s not much on offer. The one to keep an eye on is the morning of the 8th of September at Woolacombe, if the forecast holds. Otherwise, it’s a blank run. That’s the story.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon night, strong winds from the SW by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Thu morning, light winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 840 | 725 | 356 | 157 | 126 | 85 | 79 | 297 | 240 | 297 | 305 | 251 | 395 | 441 | 389 | 205 | 85 | 125 | 61 | 40 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 12:18PM7.14m | 1:11AM6.88m | 1:58PM6.89m | 2:59AM6.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:46AM2.88m | 6:36PM3.10m | 7:30AM3.27m | 8:36PM3.10m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  | |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 18 | WSW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 356 | 157 | 6 | 85 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 85 | 125 | 61 | 40 | 11 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | W 16 | — | W 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | SW 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 10 | — | — | WSW 9 | — | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 840 | 725 | — | — | 126 | — | 79 | 297 | 240 | 297 | 305 | 251 | 395 | 441 | 389 | 205 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 316 | 69 | 23 | 67 | 140 | 57 | 279 | 373 | 104 | 104 | 373 | 91 | 256 | 316 | 279 | 69 | 90 | 3 | 3 | 119 | 92 |
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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