Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Backdoor 4 sea temperature is
17.4° C
0.9° 

Backdoor 4 surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, S swell with 501 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period with S 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s 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 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Mon 24th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 11s
Best Surf 7PM (Wed 26th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 7s
Most Powerful 7PM (Wed 26th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, grab a cup of coffee, let's get into it. The outlook for the next couple of weeks is a real mixed bag. We're looking at Backdoor 4, a very consistent reef break over on the east side of the island. The water temp is sitting at 63°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there with the wetsuit thickness.

The first few days, from the 19th through to the 24th, are a write-off. We're talking tiny, weak swell with poor energy readings, often in the double digits, and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, making things choppy. It's a real flat spell, so you can leave the board in the car for a solid week.

Things start to show a little pulse on the morning of Tuesday the 25th. We get a jump in swell energy to 194 (moderate energy) with a 4ft swell from the ENE. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze, which will keep it clean. But honestly, it's still just surfable, nothing to get too excited about.

The first real standout comes on Thursday the 27th. The afternoon session is looking tasty. The swell builds to 5ft from the south with a nice 11-second period, giving it some real push. The energy jumps to 495 (moderate wave energy), and the wind goes clean offshore from the SSE. This is the best window in the near term.

Then, hold on to your board. The end of the month and into early September is a monster. The swell is going to become massive, but it's going to be a serious problem. From the 30th of August through to the 3rd of September, we're looking at overhead-to-double-overhead-plus surf. The 30th afternoon sees an 8ft south swell, and by the 31st morning it's 10ft, with energy readings hitting 2795. By the 1st of September, it's 15ft with a staggering 12531 energy reading. This is expert-only territory, and the wind is not good—mostly cross or cross-on, making it lumpy. The waves are predicted to be too big for this break, so this is more of a massive, dangerous spectacle than a session. Even the 3rd of September morning, with a 8ft SE swell, is still too big for the conditions.

So, to sum it up: the best bet for a clean, fun wave is the afternoon of Thursday, 27th August at Backdoor 4. The offshore wind and solid south swell will make for some proper lined-up waves. Everything else before that is flat, and everything after that is a massive, windy swell that's best watched from the shore. That's the call for this stretch.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SE
9
1
NE
6
1.1
ENE
6
1.1
ENE
6
0.7
ENE
6
0.5
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
9
0.8
S
9
0.5
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.6
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.8
ENE
9
0.7
ENE
9
0.7
ENE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
95
58
82
93
34
21
14
9
9
9
20
99
61
64
81
100
94
68
65
Wind (km/h)
20
NNE
15
N
30
NE
10
NW
10
WNW
10
WNW
10
NW
5
WNW
10
E
5
WNW
5
NNE
15
ENE
10
N
15
NW
10
NW
5
WNW
10
SW
10
ESE
25
WSW
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
glassy
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
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
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:29
5:30
5:30
 mm
1
2
1
8
7
Temp °C
16
20
20
20
18
17
15
16
16
16
15
17
16
23
25
20
14
15
16
Feels °C
12
15
16
17
16
15
13
16
14
15
15
15
14
20
21
18
14
14
14
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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