Surf Forecasts:
Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with 715 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Backdoor 4 this week:
The surf forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Backdoor 4 in the next 16 days are 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's be real: the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for a proper paddle session. The data is showing a lot of close-to-nothing waves and a whole heap of blown-out, too-big conditions. For the first week, from the 5th to the 12th, we're looking at tiny, weak swells with poor to ordinary surf. The wind is mostly cross-shore or onshore, making a mess of things. The combined swell energy is mostly weak, sitting between 28 and 148 (that's low energy, fellas). There's a long dry spell with no real solid recommendations.
The one real standout in this forecast is Backdoor 4 (reef) on Tuesday afternoon, August 11th. The energy is ramping up to a solid 579 (moderate energy), and we're getting a clean 4ft swell from the south with a 12-second period. That's a nice, long groundswell that will hold its shape. The wind is going cross-offshore, which should keep the face clean. It's a very consistent break, so you know it'll be working. Be aware, it's an intermediate-level reef break, and it's exposed to the east, so that south swell is going to wrap in nicely. The water temp is around 64.2°F, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
Now, for the second week, from the 14th onwards, the swell gets serious, but it's way too big. The energy jumps into the thousands (1431, 2128, 2209), with waves pushing 7.5ft to 10ft. This is expert-only territory, and even then, the wind and tide reports say it's too big for this break. The winds are mostly cross-off or offshore, but the size is just overwhelming. So, for the average punter, the best bet is that single Tuesday afternoon session.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sat night, strong winds from the NW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 8 | S 10 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 13 | S 12 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 26 | 22 | 30 | 112 | 39 | 87 | 113 | 48 | 33 | 30 | 87 | 132 | 137 | 433 | 531 | 261 | 73 | 673 | 390 | 130 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:55AM1.12m | 1:51PM1.39m | 2:10AM1.03m | 2:58PM1.44m | 3:35AM0.98m | 4:07PM1.52m | 4:56AM1.00m | 5:11PM1.61m | 6:03AM1.06m | 6:09PM1.71m | 6:59AM1.13m | 7:02PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:10PM0.45m | 7:05AM0.31m | 8:28PM0.44m | 8:05AM0.36m | 9:51PM0.38m | 9:15AM0.39m | 11:06PM0.28m | 10:26AM0.38m | 00:08AM0.16m | 11:31AM0.33m | 1:02AM0.07m | 12:29PM0.27m | 1:50AM-0.00m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | SSW 5 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 14 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 13 | S 12 | S 9 |
| kJ | 26 | 22 | 9 | 112 | 39 | 87 | 113 | 48 | 33 | 29 | 87 | 132 | 137 | 4 | 531 | 261 | 73 | 673 | 390 | 130 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | S 10 | S 10 | E 11 | S 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | S 7 | NE 4 | S 5 | SE 10 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 7 | ENE 10 | S 14 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 8 | 18 | 30 | 21 | 27 | 16 | 21 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 51 | 131 | 52 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSE 12 | E 8 | SSE 12 | SE 10 | SSE 12 | E 10 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 6 | SSE 8 | S 5 | — | — | — | NW 5 | ENE 10 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 2 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 27 | 8 | 19 | 21 | 30 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 55 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 4 | SW 5 | — | NNE 3 | WNW 2 | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | NE 3 | ENE 8 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | W 4 | W 4 | NW 3 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | — | 15 | 29 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 10 | 3 | 433 | 68 | 84 | 40 | 16 | 3 | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 52 | 2 | 2 | 73 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 72 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 117 | 208 | 208 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Backdoor 4 surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Backdoor 4 Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Backdoor 4 provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Backdoor 4 can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Backdoor 4 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 (Backdoor 4) 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 Backdoor 4 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.
Backdoor 4 is 14 km (9 miles) from the city of Catherine Hill Bay. If you plan a holiday in Newcastle, look for hotels and other accommodation in Catherine Hill Bay. Catherine Hill Bay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
Nearest