Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, ESE swell with 759 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Broken Head in the next 16 days are 1.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I won’t lie to you—this 16-day window for Broken Head is a tough one. There’s a real dry spell at the start, with nothing worth paddling out for on Sunday the 16th or Monday the 17th. The swell’s there, but the wind’s all wrong, pushing in from the east and southeast, making it choppy and messy. You’ll want to sit this one out until we get a proper window.
The first real glimmer comes on Wednesday morning, 19th August. The S wind swings in at just 6 mph, a cross-off that’ll clean things right up. Swell’s 5 ft from the SE with a nice long 11-second period—proper groundswell energy, 587 (moderate to strong) worth of push behind it. That’s the standout of the week. This point break handles that direction well, and with those conditions, expect some clean, lined-up walls. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but with that size, it’s still approachable if you’re getting around. Water temp is 68°, about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Thursday morning, 20th August, offers another chance. SW offshore at just 3 mph—basically glassy—with 5 ft of ESE swell. Period’s a bit shorter at 8 seconds, energy reading 306 (moderate), but it’ll still be clean and surfable. Not a standout, but a decent option if you missed Wednesday.
After that, things drop off fast. Friday and Saturday (21st and 22nd) are poor, with onshore winds and fading swell. Saturday morning the 22nd has a brief glass-off with 3 ft waves, but it’s weak (119 energy) and ordinary. Sunday the 23rd is similar—3 ft, clean enough with a SSE cross-off, but nothing to get excited about.
The second week is pretty bleak. From Monday 24th through to the end of the month, it’s mostly tiny surf, poor conditions, or both. There’s a small bump on Wednesday 26th morning with 5 ft from the SSE, period 7 seconds, energy 280 (moderate), and clean cross-off winds, but it’s marginal at best. Thursday 27th morning has a proper offshore (SW 16 mph) with 3 ft of SSE groundswell at 11 seconds, energy 309 (moderate), so it’ll be clean and workable for a small-wave session, but not a standout.
Overall, Wednesday 19th morning is your best bet. After that, you’re scratching for scraps. This is a quiet run for the area, but forecasts change, so don’t write it off entirely.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 210 | 432 | 362 | 388 | 427 | 502 | 444 | 465 | 505 | 369 | 203 | 303 | 187 | 249 | 150 | 124 | 128 | 114 | 138 | 136 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 10:23PM1.46m | 11:00AM1.32m | 10:58PM1.28m | 11:48AM1.28m | 11:35PM1.11m | 12:42PM1.24m | 00:20AM0.96m | 1:49PM1.21m | 1:26AM0.85m | 3:05PM1.21m | 3:01AM0.80m | 4:16PM1.27m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:11PM0.18m | 4:44AM0.11m | 4:57PM0.32m | 5:17AM0.18m | 5:49PM0.45m | 5:52AM0.26m | 6:54PM0.56m | 6:36AM0.34m | 8:25PM0.62m | 7:36AM0.40m | 10:07PM0.59m | 8:54AM0.42m | 11:16PM0.51m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — |
mm | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | SSE 17 | S 8 | S 7 | ENE 9 | E 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 33 | 59 | 71 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 444 | 465 | 505 | 369 | 203 | 303 | 187 | 249 | 150 | 124 | 128 | 114 | 138 | 136 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | E 10 | SSE 18 | E 10 | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 9 | SE 8 | S 14 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 59 | 18 | 31 | 17 | 17 | 49 | 24 | 129 | 82 | 70 | 70 | 3 | 91 | 4 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 14 | S 15 | SSE 17 | S 14 | S 13 | ESE 13 | S 19 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 12 | — | E 10 | — | S 13 | S 12 | E 12 | S 10 | E 10 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 7 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 34 | 14 | 34 | 7 | 56 | 18 | 15 | — | 8 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 |
| kJ | 210 | 432 | 362 | 388 | 427 | 502 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 26 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 20 | 8 | 51 | 61 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 264 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
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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