Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, ESE swell with 785 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Broken Head this week:
The surf forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Broken Head in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board and wax, it’s Rusty here. Let’s take a long, hard look at the next couple of weeks for this spot. The early days are going to be a bit of a scratch, but we’ve got some absolute gems on the horizon if you’re willing to wait.
We’ve got a serious lull to start off with. From the very beginning, it’s a struggle. Honestly, the first few days are pretty grim. Around Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, there’s barely a ripple with combined wave energy sitting at just 95 and 61, and that’s small, weak stuff. It’ll be frustrating, but hang in there because it changes.
Things finally start to wake up on the morning of Sunday, August 16th. That’s when we see our first real stand-out. Broken Head picks up a clean 6ft swell from the SSE with offshore winds. The combined energy jumps to a healthy 358 and the conditions are labelled as good. It’s a bit short-period (7 seconds), so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but that offshore wind will clean it up nicely. This is for the more experienced crew, though, as it’s over the beginner-friendly mark.
Now, the best of the whole forecast is sittin’ right in front of us on the morning of Friday, August 21st. This is the one to circle on the calendar. We’re looking at a solid 6ft swell coming out of the east, with a longer 9-second period. The wind is light offshore from the SSW, almost glassy. The combined energy is pumping at 517, and it’s being called “very good surf conditions”. This is peak Broken Head, with clean, lined-up point waves. Get on it early.
The following days keep a bit of size and push around the 5ft to 6ft mark into the weekend, but the wind turns messy. By the 23rd and 24th, it drops back down. The very end of the run, into the second week, fades to small chunky stuff again. That Friday the 21st is your absolute best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 8 | ENE 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 85 | 61 | 61 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 28 | 178 | 28 | 176 | 360 | 293 | 177 | 236 | 674 | 785 | 734 | 680 | 670 | 275 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 7:50PM1.91m | 8:08AM1.21m | 8:32PM1.88m | 8:51AM1.27m | 9:11PM1.78m | 9:34AM1.31m | 9:48PM1.64m | 10:16AM1.33m | 10:23PM1.46m | 11:00AM1.32m | 10:58PM1.28m | 11:48AM1.28m | 11:35PM1.11m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:28AM-0.00m | 1:57PM-0.05m | 3:05AM-0.01m | 2:42PM-0.02m | 3:40AM0.01m | 3:26PM0.07m | 4:12AM0.05m | 4:11PM0.18m | 4:44AM0.11m | 4:57PM0.32m | 5:17AM0.18m | 5:49PM0.45m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 8 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
Temp °C | 19 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 7 | S 8 | E 9 | S 8 | ENE 9 | SSE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 18 | SSE 16 | S 15 | S 10 | SE 13 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 149 | 98 | 79 | 212 | 43 | 343 | 28 | 178 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 19 | 6 | 26 | 5 | 44 | 7 | 275 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 10 | E 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 14 | S 19 | SSE 19 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | S 18 | E 13 | S 15 | S 12 | SE 13 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 85 | 61 | 61 | 43 | 4 | 43 | 3 | 28 | 20 | 7 | 36 | 29 | 27 | 45 | 24 | 3 | 18 | 28 | 7 | 55 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 10 | NNE 7 | S 19 | NE 9 | S 19 | SSE 17 | NE 8 | S 15 | — | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | — | E 13 | — | — | S 20 |
| kJ | 10 | 9 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 28 | 3 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 4 | — | — | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | — | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 |
| kJ | — | 11 | — | — | 333 | 536 | 347 | — | 143 | 176 | 360 | 293 | 177 | 236 | 674 | 785 | 734 | 680 | 670 | 246 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 15 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 545 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 8 | 266 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Broken Head Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Broken Head provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Broken Head can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Broken Head 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 (Broken Head) 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 Broken Head 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.
Broken Head is 19 km (12 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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