Surf Forecasts:
Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, S swell with 461 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with ENE 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. 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 1.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Backdoor 4 over the next couple of weeks.
Right now, there’s nothing doing. The first few days are a write-off with tiny, weak swell and poor conditions. We’re looking at a gap of a few days before anything worth paddling out for shows up.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Sunday the 23rd of August in the morning. We’ve got a bump in south swell pushing about 5ft, with a period of 10 seconds, but the wind is cross and the combined energy is moderate (495). It’s a marginal call, but the best of a slow start. By the afternoon, the wind swings cross-onshore and it gets choppy, so that morning window is the one to try.
Monday the 24th of August morning sees a drop in size to about 3ft south swell, but the wind is offshore and light, making it clean. The combined energy is moderate (233). It’s not a standout, but it’s a clean, surfable wave for an intermediate.
The biggest news on the horizon is Friday the 4th of September. We’ve got a serious pulse of swell – 12ft from the south with a short period of 8 seconds and a massive combined energy of 1454. That’s a lot of water moving around. The wind is light cross-onshore, but the swell is simply too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s a beast. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.
The following Saturday the 5th of September looks much more manageable. A solid 3ft to 4ft south swell, clean offshore wind, and moderate energy (435). This is a much better bet for a good session. Sunday the 6th of September also has clean, light offshore winds and a 4ft east swell, offering a clean, fun wave.
If you’re looking for the best on offer, I’d target the Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September. The Friday the 4th is a spectacle, but only for the brave and the very experienced. For the rest of the time, keep an eye on the morning windows when the wind is light or offshore, but don’t expect much.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sat night, fresh winds from the NE by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 10 | S 14 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | ENE 9 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 461 | 200 | 257 | 162 | 128 | 69 | 61 | 211 | 371 | 308 | 120 | 113 | 100 | 134 | 172 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:41AM0.86m | 4:01PM1.29m | 4:54AM0.89m | 4:58PM1.35m | 5:47AM0.94m | 5:46PM1.42m | 6:29AM1.01m | 6:27PM1.49m | 7:06AM1.09m | 7:05PM1.54m | 7:41AM1.17m | 7:40PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:05PM0.51m | 8:59AM0.56m | 11:10PM0.46m | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.39m | 11:07AM0.50m | 00:37AM0.32m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:12AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:43AM0.18m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:14AM0.13m | ||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 10 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | S 9 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 461 | 200 | 257 | 162 | 128 | 47 | 32 | 41 | 203 | 178 | 120 | 113 | 100 | 134 | 172 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | S 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | NE 6 | S 14 | E 14 | NE 5 | E 13 | S 10 | S 9 | S 16 | S 9 | S 15 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 194 | 4 | 23 | 3 | 69 | 61 | 43 | 14 | 74 | 21 | 20 | 31 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | E 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 18 | E 14 | — | ENE 8 | E 13 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | — | S 16 | — | S 15 | — | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 4 | — | 11 | 3 | 20 | 32 | — | 47 | — | 17 | — | 15 | 16 | 31 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | W 3 | — | SE 4 | — | NE 9 | ENE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | — | — | ENE 9 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 2 |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | — | 12 | — | 20 | 20 | 37 | 65 | — | — | 211 | 371 | 308 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 208 | 134 | 285 | 111 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 2 | 231 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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