Ballina North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Look, I’ve had a proper look at Ballina North Wall for the next couple of weeks, and I’ll be straight with you – it’s a tough run. This is an advanced point and breakwater setup, so it needs things to line up just right, and for the most part, they just don’t.

The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is right on the money for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on Wednesday the 2nd of September with a tiny 2ft swell from the east, period hanging at 10 seconds. Combined energy is weak (80), and while the morning has a light cross-offshore breeze keeping things clean, the size is just too small to get excited about. That afternoon, the wind swings to a moderate cross-shore, making a mess of the already weak 2ft waves.

Thursday the 3rd brings a bit more size – 3ft in the morning from the north – but the period drops right off to a pathetic 5 seconds. That’s pure wind chop. The morning is clean with a light cross-off, but it’s not surf you’d drive for. The afternoon turns into a cross-shore mess.

From Friday the 4th right through to Monday the 7th, it’s a long, boring stretch. We’re talking tiny 1ft to 2ft waves, short periods, and cross or onshore winds most of the time. Sunday morning the 7th is glassy with 1ft, but there’s just no push.

Tuesday the 8th shows a spike in energy (196) on the 3ft SSE swell, but the wind is light cross-onshore and the period is 9 seconds – not enough to salvage it.

Wednesday the 9th has a 5ft NE swell in the afternoon with combined energy at 201 (moderate), but the wind is directly onshore and the period is a short 5 seconds. Marginal at best.

Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th see a big jump in size. On Friday morning, we’re looking at a solid 10ft SSE swell with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1573 – that’s serious power. The wind is light cross-onshore, but here’s the thing: the forecast notes say the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. At over 8ft, this is expert-only territory, and even then, the North Wall might just close out or be dangerous. The same goes for the afternoon and into Saturday morning the 12th, where we still have 8ft from the SE (energy 815). For most of us, these days are a watch-from-the-cliffs situation.

After that big pulse, it settles down but stays messy. Sunday the 13th has a 6ft easterly swell in the morning (energy 510) with a light cross-shore breeze, but the period is short at 7 seconds. It’s marginal, not a standout.

Now, the one bright spot. Tuesday the 15th of September morning. We’ve got a 6ft NE swell with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the north, keeping it clean. The combined energy is 313 – moderate. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best looking window in the whole run. The wind is right, the size is solid for the break, and it’s clean. This is the one to aim for. Expect some crowd potential as word gets out.

The rest of the run into Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th drops back down in size and quality, with light winds but weak swells.

So, if you’re an advanced surfer and you’re keen, pencil in Tuesday morning the 15th. Everything else is either too small, too messy, or way too big and dangerous. For the beginners, stay well away from that big swell window on the 11th and 12th.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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