20 April 2026: Tsunami Alert Issued for NE Japan

A magnitude-7.4 earthquake off the coast of Sanriku has triggered a tsunami warning. latest updates

Backsides surfForecast / NSW – North Coast / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 pm Monday 20 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
24.5° 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 Tuesday (Apr 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Backsides in the next 16 days are 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Apr 21) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Apr 22) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 21st Apr)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Best Surf 1AM (Tue 21st Apr)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Most Powerful 1AM (Tue 21st Apr)10ft (3.0m) 12s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1
!
2
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
3
SSE
3
SSE
3
SSE
3
SSE
2.5
SSE
2.4
SSE
2.5
SSE
2.3
SSE
2.1
SSE
2
SSE
2.3
SE
1.9
SE
1.8
SE
1.9
SE
1.6
ESE
1.3
SE
1.1
SE
1.3
E
1.2
ESE
1.2
ESE
1.6
ESE
Period(s) (?)1312111111101011111111111110101088888
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)328027622076214716471262128311929368871197882792706490296161193173173300
Wind
(km/h)
30
S
25
SSW
30
SSW
30
S
20
SSW
25
SSW
30
S
20
S
25
S
25
SSE
20
SE
15
SSE
25
SE
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
SE
10
ESE
10
S
10
ESE
5
SE
10
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscrosscrosscrosscross-
on
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:36PM
1.67
10:56AM
1.02
11:31PM
1.62
11:59AM
0.92
12:34AM
1.53
1:16PM
0.86
1:45AM
1.45
2:47PM
0.87
3:00AM
1.39
4:06PM
0.94
4:07AM
1.35
5:04PM
1.05
5:04AM
1.32
Low Tide
/ height (m)
5:22AM
0.26
4:41PM
0.25
6:28AM
0.30
5:38PM
0.32
7:42AM
0.32
6:47PM
0.38
8:57AM
0.30
8:06PM
0.41
10:02AM
0.25
9:28PM
0.40
10:54AM
0.21
10:42PM
0.36
11:35AM
0.17
Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Sunrise--6:05--6:07--6:07--6:07--6:07--6:09--6:09
Sunset5:22--5:22--5:21--5:20--5:19--5:17--5:16--
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
-311331-11321---1----
Temp. °C212120212020212021222022222222222021212021
Feels °C (?)161616161616161617171720181919201919201920
  • 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