Surf Forecasts:
Black Rock surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 515 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Black Rock this week:
The surf forecast for Black Rock over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Black Rock in the next 16 days are 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Black Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards.
We’re kicking off a quiet spell around Black Rock (a reef break for advanced surfers). The first proper window we can talk about arrives on Wednesday morning, August 19th, and that is *the* standout of this whole 16-day outlook. The water temperature is sitting at 68°, which is about average for this time of year.
Wednesday morning, August 19th, is the one to circle. We’ve got a clean 5 ft swell out of the SE, with an 11-second period – that’s a proper groundswell, so the sets will have some push and shape. The wind is glassy, dead calm. That means Black Rock will be looking absolutely pristine. The combined swell energy is a solid moderate 617, so there’s plenty of grunt in the water. This is going to be a session you remember.
Wednesday afternoon, August 19th, drops off a bit to 5 ft with a 10-second period and a light cross-onshore breeze. It’s still surfable, but not the gem the morning was.
Thursday, August 20th, offers a few options, but nothing that lights the fire. Early morning has 5 ft from the ESE, but the period drops to 8 seconds – a bit of a wind-swell feel. The wind is a light offshore, so the faces will be clean, but the waves themselves are a bit average. The energy is moderate at 300.
Thursday afternoon is glassy again with 5 ft, but still that short 8-second period. It’ll be fun for a paddle, but don’t expect much push.
From Friday, August 21st, right through to the end of the first week and into the second week, it gets small and ordinary. The swell drops below 3 ft and stays there for most of the run, with weak energy readings often dropping below 100. The wind is mostly junk – cross, cross-on, or just not clean. There’s no real stand-out in that stretch.
The only other flicker of life comes right at the end of the outlook: Monday afternoon, August 31st. We see a pulse of 3 ft from the SE with a very long, slow 13-second period. That’s a long period groundswell – will wrap nicely into Black Rock’s reef, but at just over three feet it’s not going to be pumping. The energy is moderate at 484, but the wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it might be a bit bumpy. Something to keep in the back of your mind, but it’s a long way out.
Verdict: Wednesday morning, August 19th, is your absolute best bet. Get in the water then. After that, prepare for a long, flat, underwhelming run until the very end of the month when maybe a little pulse shows up, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
469 | 486 | 515 | 437 | 296 | 291 | 300 | 129 | 54 | 84 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 105 | 110 | 99 | 81 | 64 | 68 | 90 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:58PM1.19m | 12:58PM1.30m | 00:32AM1.06m | 1:59PM1.27m | 1:16AM0.95m | 3:15PM1.28m | 2:29AM0.87m | 4:29PM1.33m | 4:20AM0.86m | 5:25PM1.41m | 5:36AM0.92m | 6:11PM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:10PM0.56m | 6:14AM0.38m | 7:10PM0.67m | 6:51AM0.43m | 8:44PM0.74m | 7:40AM0.48m | 10:27PM0.72m | 8:51AM0.51m | 11:33PM0.65m | 10:09AM0.50m | 00:19AM0.56m | 11:12AM0.46m | 00:54AM0.47m | |||||||
— | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | ENE 7 | SE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
469 | 129 | 515 | 68 | 296 | 291 | 300 | 129 | 54 | 84 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 105 | 110 | 99 | 81 | 64 | 68 | 90 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | S 12 | ENE 7 | S 10 | ENE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 |
8 | 42 | 102 | 33 | 44 | 9 | 8 | 56 | 38 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 32 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | — | S 11 | S 15 | S 9 | — | — | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | — | E 13 | E 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 18 | NE 9 | S 12 | NNE 7 |
26 | — | 36 | 4 | 15 | — | — | 9 | 42 | — | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 26 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 9 | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | N 4 |
— | 486 | — | 437 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 22 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 242 | 0 | 16 | 174 | 0 | 0 | 226 | 0 | 16 | 215 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Black Rock Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Black Rock provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Black Rock can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Black Rock 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 (Black Rock) 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 Black Rock 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.
Are you planning a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales? If you are looking for accommodation near Black Rock, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in North Coast - New South Wales, consider staying in Banora Point which is 34 km (21 miles) away. Other places in and around North Coast - New South Wales where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Ballina which is 38 km (24 miles) away, Lismore, Surfers Paradise and Gold Coast.











