Ballina North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, Wednesday morning the 9th of September gives us a bit of a tease – a 5ft swell from the SSE, period of 9 seconds, with light cross-shore wind. The water’s sitting at 69°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The combined energy reads 396 (moderate), but honestly, it’s only marginal. The tide is questionable and the energy isn’t quite there for a standout. That afternoon, the wind picks up from the NE at 12 mph and turns it into a choppy mess.

The real action, and I mean the kind that gets your heart pumping, arrives Thursday morning the 10th. The swell is a solid 10ft from the SSE, with a period of 8 seconds. This is a big one – the combined energy is a meaty 1375 (strong). However, this is advanced territory; 10ft is too big for beginners and only suits experienced surfers. The wind is a fresh cross-shore, which isn’t ideal, but the forecast notes the swell is actually too big for this break. The same goes for Thursday afternoon. So, while the size is there, the quality for paddle surfing at the North Wall is compromised.

Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th are a letdown. The swell drops, the wind stays cross-on or cross, and the energy numbers are moderate to weak. We’re looking at 8ft down to 5ft, but it’s all choppy and messy. Not worth getting wet for.

We get a little window Sunday morning the 13th with a 3ft swell and a period of 11 seconds (longer period, better shape), but the wind is cross-on, keeping it poor. The energy is 352 (moderate). The swell direction is SSE, which is not the optimum ENE that Ballina North Wall likes. It’s just not coming together.

From Monday the 14th right through to the end of the forecast on the 24th, it’s a long, flat run. We’re talking 3ft or less most days, often with poor wind or short period slop. The combined energy values drop into the low hundreds and even double digits – weak. There’s a brief moment on the 23rd with a 4ft ENE swell and a 10-second period, but the onshore wind (9 mph) and the 345 energy (still moderate) don’t save it from being rated poor.

The standout, if you can call it that, is the big Thursday the 10th for the spectacle, but it’s not a clean, surfable day for the North Wall. The best bet for a clean wave might actually be Monday the 14th morning, with a 2ft swell from the SSE, 11-second period, and a light cross-offshore SSW wind. The energy is low (188), but the wind is clean. It’s tiny, but it’s the only time the conditions are truly clean.

So, for the next 16 days, there’s no single, clear winner. The big swell is too big and messy, and the rest is too small and poorly directed. Keep an eye on the 14th for a glassy but small session. It’s one of those stretches where the forecasts could change, so don’t write it off completely.

Rusty.

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