Backsides surfForecast / NSW – North Coast / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 am Thursday 30 Apr 2026 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Backsides surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Backsides sea temperature is
24.1° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Backsides this week:

The surf forecast for Backsides over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 02) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 19s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Backsides in the next 16 days are 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 05) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (May 06) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sat 2nd May)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Best Surf10AM (Sat 2nd May)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 1AM (Tue 5th May)8ft (2.5m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
AM
PM
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
1
0
2
!
!
!
!
!
3
3
1
3
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
ESE
8
2
E
8
2
E
8
2
E
8
1.9
ESE
8
2
E
8
2.5
E
9
2.4
E
10
2.2
E
10
2
E
10
2
E
10
2
E
10
2.4
E
10
2.4
E
11
2.5
E
11
2.3
E
11
2.1
E
11
1.9
E
10
1.9
E
11
1.9
E
11
1.7
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
599
526
535
552
485
513
1064
1102
928
786
761
761
1183
1302
1520
1212
992
768
819
804
580
Wind (km/h)
25
SE
25
SE
25
SE
20
SE
20
SSE
20
E
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
E
15
ESE
15
E
5
E
5
WNW
10
NE
5
NE
5
WSW
10
ENE
5
WSW
15
SW
10
SSE
5
SW
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
on
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
on
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
7:43PM1.48m
7:44AM1.17m
8:18PM1.54m
8:18AM1.12m
8:53PM1.56m
8:52AM1.06m
9:28PM1.56m
9:28AM0.99m
10:04PM1.53m
10:07AM0.92m
10:42PM1.47m
10:52AM0.84m
11:24PM1.40m
Low Tide
1:13PM0.14m
2:01AM0.28m
1:42PM0.15m
2:42AM0.31m
2:12PM0.18m
3:24AM0.34m
2:42PM0.22m
4:06AM0.37m
3:14PM0.27m
4:51AM0.40m
3:47PM0.32m
5:39AM0.42m
4:23PM0.38m
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:13
6:15
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:12
5:12
5:10
5:09
5:08
5:07
2
8
1
3
13
1
1
2
5
4
2
Temp °C
22
21
21
22
21
21
22
22
21
21
22
22
21
22
22
21
21
20
22
22
21
18
18
19
19
19
20
20
19
21
20
21
22
22
23
22
22
22
22
22
23
23
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
9
0.2
S
8
0.2
SSE
15
0.2
S
12
1.9
ESE
8
0.2
S
9
0.2
S
8
2.4
E
10
2.2
E
10
2
E
10
2
E
10
2
E
10
2.4
E
10
2.4
E
11
2.5
E
11
2.3
E
11
2.1
E
11
1.9
E
10
1.9
E
11
1.9
E
11
1.7
E
10
Energy kJ
6
6
21
12
485
7
5
1102
928
786
761
761
1183
1302
1520
1212
992
768
819
804
580
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
8
0.1
S
8
0.2
S
10
0.1
N
13
0.1
S
19
0.2
S
8
0.1
NE
12
0.1
S
16
0.1
NE
11
0.1
NE
11
0.2
NNE
8
0.1
NE
10
0.1
NE
9
0.1
NE
9
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.2
NNE
10
0.2
NNE
10
Energy kJ
8
6
1
1
9
4
7
5
6
5
4
5
7
4
3
3
5
4
10
10
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
13
0.1
NE
15
0.1
N
15
0.1
N
12
0.1
NE
13
0.1
S
7
0.1
N
13
0.1
NE
12
0.1
S
17
0.1
NE
11
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
16
0.2
S
15
0.2
S
15
0.2
S
17
Energy kJ
3
8
4
3
7
1
4
6
6
5
6
5
5
18
17
24
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
ESE
8
2
E
8
2
E
8
2
E
8
0.1
S
8
2
E
8
2.5
E
9
0.6
SSW
4
0.5
S
4
Energy kJ
599
526
535
552
1
513
1064
13
9
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
23
23
23
23
23
69
23
23
69
23
23
4
0
23
0
0
23
0
0
4
0
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
5
3
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
6
7
5
5
5
7
4
4
4
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Backsides:

join our community of surf reporters

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 Backsides 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 Backsides Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Backsides provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Backsides can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Backsides 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 (Backsides) 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 Backsides 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.

Backsides is 5 km (3 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest