Ballina North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, giving you the lowdown in feet and miles per hour.

So, the first real surf we see hits on Thursday the 10th, and it's a proper beast. We’re looking at a solid 11-12ft swell rolling in from the SSE, packing a hefty 1782 units of energy. That’s a massive amount of water moving around. The period is a moderate 9 seconds, so it’s more of a wind swell mix, but it's just too big for this spot. Ballina North Wall is an advanced-only wave on a good day, but with numbers like that, it’s squarely in the "experts only" zone, and even then, it’s going to be a washing machine. The wind is a fresh cross-shore at 22 mph, which isn't doing the surface any favours either. By Friday the 11th, it’s still pumping at about 7-8ft, still a bit oversized and lumpy. After that, the energy backs off, but so does the quality.

Over the weekend and into the start of the next week, things get pretty messy. The swell drops, but it’s all cross-onshore or onshore wind, creating chop. There’s nothing clean on offer. From the 12th through to the 17th, the surf is just poor. We see a brief moment of glass on Monday the 14th morning with a small 3ft SSE groundswell, but it’s pretty ordinary. Then there’s a total lull mid-week with tiny 1-2ft stuff and crappy wind.

Now, look, the one that catches my eye is a potential standout, but it's way out there. On Saturday the 19th afternoon, we see a late pulse jump to about 8ft from the SSE with a strong 1000 units of energy. The period is only 8 seconds, which is short, but the numbers are there. However, the wind is a fresh cross-shore at 19 mph, so it’ll be lumpy. But then Sunday the 20th is the real star. Both morning and afternoon have solid 7-8ft SSE swell with a much nicer 11-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1332 and 1049). The wind is still cross-shore, but it’s a moderate breeze at 16-19 mph, not as gnarly. It’s still big, so this is only for the crew who know what they’re doing, but the improved period on that SSE swell should make for some proper, powerful walls at North Wall. This is an advanced lineup through and through.

After that, the surf drops again. The real shining light, the best bet of the whole forecast, happens on Tuesday the 22nd. The swell has dropped to a more manageable 4ft from the SSE with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a more relaxed 329. But here’s the kicker: the wind is forecast to be glassy in the morning. Dead flat, no ripples. That’s a major positive. It’s the only time in the 16 days we get that combination of clean conditions and a surfable swell size. For everyone from intermediate up, that Tuesday morning window is your golden ticket.

The water temp is sitting around 69°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

So, to wrap it up: avoid the first few days unless you're a pro and like a beating. The weekend of the 19th-20th has some powerful but messy potential for the experienced. The absolute standout, though, is the glassy morning of Tuesday the 22nd. Circle that date.

Rusty.

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