Surf Forecasts:
Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with 212 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Backdoor 4 this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Backdoor 4 in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's brewing.
Honestly, the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. There's a massive gap of nothing but poor surf ahead of us. We're looking at a stretch from Wednesday the 19th all the way through to the end of August with very little to get excited about, and a lot of it is just not worth paddling out for.
The only real spot on the radar is Backdoor 4, a consistent reef break that's exposed to the east. The water's sitting at 64°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing crazy there.
The first real glimmer of hope, and I mean a distant glimmer, is on the morning of Thursday the 27th of August. We'll see a swell from the south at 6ft, but it's a short period 8-second wind swell, so the energy is moderate (420). The wind is light and cross-onshore, which will put some bumps on it. It's not great, and it's a long way off.
But the real standout, the one that's got my heart racing a little, is the weekend of the 29th and 30th of August. Saturday afternoon the 29th, we get a proper south swell marching in at 12ft with a 10-second period. The energy is strong (2192). The wind is a clean cross-offshore. However, at 12ft, this is strictly for the experts only. It's going to be a heavy, powerful wave.
Then Sunday the 30th is a beast. The south swell pumps at 10ft to 12ft, with the period stretching to 11 seconds. The energy is very strong (2781, then 5403). The wind is a solid offshore breeze, making for clean, heaving faces. But again, over 8ft, this is expert territory. It's going to be a proper winter session for the chargers.
Looking further out, Monday the 31st of August still has a solid south swell, dropping a bit to 8ft to 10ft, with the same clean winds. The energy is still strong (2010 and 1528). This is the window for the best of the best, but it's still big.
So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is the south swell arriving Saturday the 29th, and peaking Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st of August. Get your big-wave board ready. The crowds at Backdoor 4 are always a factor, but with a swell this size, the lineup will be thinned out to just the crew who can handle it.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 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) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | S 9 | SSE 5 | S 9 | S 17 | ENE 5 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 94 | 210 | 95 | 64 | 75 | 117 | 35 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 41 | 23 | 22 | 29 | 46 | 30 | 89 | 99 | 96 | 80 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 12:52PM1.32m | 1:05AM0.96m | 1:49PM1.28m | 2:17AM0.88m | 2:54PM1.27m | 3:41AM0.86m | 4:01PM1.29m | 4:54AM0.89m | 4:58PM1.35m | 5:47AM0.94m | 5:46PM1.42m | 6:29AM1.01m | 6:27PM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:30PM0.50m | 6:53AM0.47m | 8:46PM0.53m | 7:49AM0.53m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | E 6 | SE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | S 8 | S 8 | E 6 | E 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 94 | 210 | 95 | 64 | 23 | 117 | 35 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 41 | 17 | 34 | 29 | 31 | 13 | 51 | 99 | 96 | 80 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | S 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | S 13 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 6 | S 9 | S 17 | NE 9 | S 10 | ENE 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 90 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 46 | 26 | 28 | 14 | 8 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 15 | — | E 11 | — | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 10 | S 9 | NE 6 | — | S 14 | NE 7 | S 10 | NE 9 | S 15 | S 8 | S 14 |
| kJ | 27 | 4 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | — | 14 | 13 | 30 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NW 3 | NNW 2 | WNW 3 | WNW 2 | — | SSW 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | — | NE 3 | NE 6 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | SW 4 |
| kJ | — | 20 | 62 | 35 | 75 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 8 | 21 | 32 | 21 | 29 | — | 1 | 89 | 19 | 11 | 17 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 338 | 20 | 2 | 141 | 2 | 11 | 101 | 218 | 167 | 338 | 2 | 0 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 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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