Ballina North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Ballina North Wall.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The surf is pretty ordinary to start the week, with that first solid window of clean waves not showing up until Friday morning, the 28th of August. It’s a long wait, but there are a few decent sessions hiding in there.

Thursday the 27th is a write-off, with strong southerly winds messing things up and the combined swell energy climbing into the moderate range (238-311), but it’s all just messy cross-shore chop. Not worth your time.

Friday morning, 28 August, is where it first comes together. We’ve got a clean 4ft swell from the SSE with a nice long period of 10 seconds, so there’s some proper shape in the water and the moderate wave energy (382) will give you some push. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SW, so those lines should be tidy. This is a standout window – the best on offer in the first week. Keep in mind the breaks an advanced, exposed point/breakwater, so it’s a spot for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Saturday morning is more marginal with rain showers and 4ft SSE swell, but the period stays up at 10 seconds and the wave energy is still moderate (335). The cross-shore wind isn’t perfect, but it’s rideable.

Sunday the 30th sees the swell bump up to 6ft from the SSE with a 10-second period and the combined energy jumps into the strong range (783). That’s a lot of water moving, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore from the SSE, so it’ll be chopped up. This is only for experienced surfers – it’ll be too much for beginners. Monday the 31st holds onto solid energy (748-875) from the SSE, but the periods get long (17-19 seconds) and the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s likely a bit fat and bumpy.

Then we get a beauty. Tuesday morning, 1 September. Glassy conditions with a light SSW breeze, a clean 3ft SSE swell with a 12-second period, and moderate energy (400). This is the real standout of the whole period. Perfect dawn patrol conditions.

Wednesday morning, 2 September, is solid too: 3ft SSE swell, 11-second period, clean cross-offshore wind from the NNW. Another good morning, but not quite the glass of Tuesday.

After that, the swell drops away. From Thursday 3 September through to Sunday 6 September, we’ve got tiny, weak waves – under 3ft and combined energy dropping into the weak range (65-192). The wind makes a mess of the afternoons, but there might be a small clean morning on Friday 4 September with offshore wind. Nothing to get excited about.

Monday 7 September brings a surprise spike in swell – 6ft from the SSE again with moderate energy (492) – but strong cross-shore winds ruin it. The following days look small and mostly onshore or messy, with the occasional small window of offshore wind on Tuesday 8 September morning that only offers knee-high leftovers.

Bottom line: If you’re chasing clean waves, lock in Friday morning 28 August for some fun, solid lines, and Tuesday morning 1 September for the glassy gold. Everything else in the first two weeks is either too small, too windy, or too messy to bother with.

Rusty.

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