Surf Forecasts:
Bombo Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 102 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bombo Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Bombo Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bombo Beach in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bombo Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Bombo Beach are grim. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak, poorly directed swell with rubbish winds. You’ll be staring at a flat spell for a solid week, with only a few half-hearted spikes that might get you wet but won’t get you stoked.
The first real chance to paddle out is Thursday afternoon, 20th August. The swell is a pathetic 3 ft from the NE, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a paltry 104 (weak). On the plus side, the wind switches to a light cross-off, keeping the surface a bit cleaner. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. You’ll be hunting for a waist-high wedge.
Friday morning, 21st August, is a slight improvement. The swell stays around 3 ft from the ENE, period still short at 7 seconds, but the wind is offshore from the W – clean. Energy is even weaker at 72 (weak). It’s small, but clean. A log might be your best friend.
Then we hit a dead zone. From Saturday, 22nd August, right through to Thursday, 28th August, the swell dribbles along at 1 ft to 2 ft, with mostly cross or onshore winds. The energy figures are pathetic, mostly under 100 (weak). There’s a glassy moment on Monday afternoon, 24th August, with 2 ft south swell and 10-second period, energy at 79 (weak) – but it’s barely a ripple. Don’t get your hopes up.
Now, here’s the interesting part. The forecast for Saturday, 29th August, shows a real pulse. Saturday morning sees 4 ft from the S with a 12-second period and energy jumping to 473 (moderate). The wind is cross-off from the SSW, so it’ll be clean. It’s a *marginal* call, but it’s the best looking window in weeks. By Saturday afternoon, the swell is up to 5 ft from the S, same period, energy climbing to 780 (moderate). The wind goes cross-shore, so it’ll get lumpy. Still, this is the first real swell of the outlook.
Then Sunday, 30th August, is a beast – but it’s too much. The swell is 12 ft from the S with a 17-second period, energy an enormous 7563 (very strong). Winds are offshore in the morning, glassy in the afternoon. This is expert-only territory. Bombo is a beach break, and a long-period groundswell like this (over 15 seconds) will break straight and ugly. It’s a paddle-out for the brave, and it’s dangerous for anyone who isn’t solid. The waves will be huge and unforgiving.
After that, Monday, 31st August, drops back to 6 ft from the S, still 11-second period, energy at 870 (moderate), but the wind is onshore and choppy. It’s messy.
The only standout here is the Saturday, 29th August morning session. The swell direction is S, which is the optimum for Bombo, the wind is clean, and the size is solid but manageable (4 ft). It’s your best bet. Sunday, 30th August, is a massive swell but only for the experts – and even then, the beach break setup will make it tricky.
Water temperature is 64°, which is about average for the time of year.
Keep your expectations low, and if you’re a beginner, stay out of the water on Sunday, 30th August. That’s a big, heavy day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 8 | S 5 | S 8 | S 14 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
102 | 82 | 54 | 79 | 38 | 62 | 41 | 76 | 40 | 18 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 49 | 33 | 47 | 43 | 44 | 48 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:21AM1.05m | 12:57PM1.28m | 1:17AM0.93m | 1:52PM1.25m | 2:29AM0.86m | 2:55PM1.25m | 3:50AM0.84m | 3:59PM1.27m | 4:58AM0.87m | 4:56PM1.32m | 5:50AM0.92m | 5:44PM1.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:17AM0.40m | 7:37PM0.47m | 7:00AM0.48m | 8:51PM0.49m | 7:55AM0.54m | 10:06PM0.48m | 9:02AM0.56m | 11:09PM0.43m | 10:09AM0.55m | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.50m | 00:38AM0.30m | |||||||
— | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 19 | 20 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 5 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 8 | ENE 8 |
69 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 35 | 59 | 41 | 76 | 40 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 49 | 32 | 47 | 43 | 33 | 48 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 7 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 7 | E 10 | S 11 | S 6 | S 5 | S 9 | S 8 | NE 6 | ESE 4 | S 14 | NE 4 | NE 8 | S 10 | S 9 |
102 | 82 | 22 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 7 | 17 | 44 | 41 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 14 | — | E 10 | S 12 | — | S 10 | S 10 | SE 7 | E 9 | S 9 | NE 6 | S 19 | NE 9 | NE 4 | E 5 | S 15 |
29 | 13 | 12 | 4 | — | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | WNW 2 | WSW 3 | — | W 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | ESE 4 | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | W 2 | — | — |
14 | 33 | 44 | 79 | 38 | 62 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | — | 10 | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 399 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 374 | 492 | 289 | 118 | 1 | 210 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Bombo Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bombo Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bombo Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bombo Beach 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 (Bombo Beach) 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 Bombo Beach 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.
Bombo Beach is 19 km (12 miles) from the city of Port Kembla. If you plan a holiday in Illawarra, look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Kembla. Port Kembla has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











