Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SE swell with 4,882 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period. 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 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's cut through it. This 16-day stretch starts with a heavy beating before it gives us a proper window to end on. The first week is a right-off, but the second week has a couple of days that are worth the wait.
It kicks off on Sunday, July 19th, and it's ugly. A solid 16ft SE swell is getting hammered by a 25 mph SSE wind. The combined energy is a massive 5763, which is a lot of power, but it's all just whitewater and chaos. This carries on through Monday and Tuesday with more of the same—big, messy, and not for paddling. The water temp is about average for the time of year.
Wednesday, July 22nd, is the first glimmer. The swell drops to 6ft from the E with a 9-second period, and the wind goes glassy in the morning. The energy is down to 461. It's small, but if you're keen, you could scratch around. Thursday, July 23rd, is better: a 4ft ENE swell with a light 9 mph offshore wind from the SW. That's clean and surfable, but still tiny.
Then we hit a dead zone. From Friday, July 24th, through to Wednesday, July 30th, the swell just disappears. Waves are under 3ft, and when a little bump shows up, the wind is onshore or cross-on. The 17-second period swell on Sunday, July 26th, is a tease—it's only 1ft. Don't bother.
The real story starts on Thursday, July 31st. This is the one. The morning brings a 4ft SSE groundswell with a very long 16-second period, and a 9 mph offshore wind from the SW. The combined energy jumps to 893. This is a point break, and that long period will wrap in sweetly at Broken Head, giving clean, lined-up waves. The afternoon goes bigger: 8ft from the SE, but with a shorter 7-second period. The energy hits 1202, and the wind is light and cross-off. This is "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." The 8ft is too big for beginners, but for the crew who can handle it, it's going to be pumping. The offshore wind from the SW on the morning of Saturday, August 1st, keeps the quality high with a 7ft SSE swell (energy 1364), but the afternoon shifts and the quality drops. That's the best run of the whole forecast. After that, it fades out through Sunday and Monday, August 3rd, with onshore winds spoiling the leftovers.
So, bottom line: the first week is a total loss. The second week has a proper window from Thursday, July 31st, morning through to Saturday, August 1st, morning. That's the call. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 17°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sat night, light winds from the SE by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue night, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 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) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4623 | 4882 | 4132 | 3919 | 2510 | 1931 | 1658 | 1115 | 804 | 538 | 461 | 412 | 322 | 232 | 190 | 144 | 382 | 212 | 268 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:04PM1.60m | 11:42AM1.19m | 11:44PM1.42m | 12:36PM1.20m | 00:25AM1.23m | 1:35PM1.20m | 1:11AM1.07m | 2:40PM1.22m | 2:09AM0.94m | 3:45PM1.25m | 3:24AM0.86m | 4:46PM1.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:38AM0.11m | 5:26PM0.30m | 6:16AM0.16m | 6:22PM0.44m | 6:55AM0.22m | 7:31PM0.56m | 7:39AM0.28m | 8:57PM0.61m | 8:30AM0.32m | 10:27PM0.59m | 9:30AM0.34m | 11:37PM0.52m | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — |
mm | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | E 11 | — | SSE 17 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | S 10 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 76 | 859 | — | 55 | 37 | 57 | 73 | 1115 | 804 | 538 | 461 | 412 | 322 | 232 | 190 | 144 | 64 | 80 | 268 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 19 | S 23 | S 21 | — | S 13 | — | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 10 | NE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | — | 117 | 11 | 9 | — | 87 | — | 70 | 61 | 36 | 35 | 31 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 21 | 48 | 49 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 24 | — | — | — | — | — | S 20 | SE 16 | SSE 16 | S 15 | S 14 | E 12 | — | — | SE 8 | S 12 | NE 8 | NE 9 |
| kJ | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 10 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 11 | 14 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | — |
| kJ | 4623 | 4882 | 4132 | 3919 | 2510 | 1931 | 1658 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 11 | 87 | 382 | 212 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 590 | 596 | 596 | 221 | 221 | 84 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 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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