
Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 4,084 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Broken Head in the next 16 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Broken Head. It’s a point break, beginner-friendly, fairly consistent and exposed to the swell. The optimum direction is from the ENE, so that’s what we’re hoping for.
The water is sitting at 69°F with a temperature anomaly of -0.4°F, so it’s about average for this time of year – nothing to write home about, just standard winter water.
We’ve got a bit of a wait though. The start of the period is a write-off. Friday the 17th through to Monday the 20th are all ruled out by strong winds and messy, lumpy conditions. There’s a fair bit of swell energy running, hitting 874 (moderate) on Friday morning and building to over 2300 (strong) by Sunday, but it’s all cross-off or cross-shore winds in the 18-28 mph range, and the period is mostly 8-9 seconds. That’s short-period wind swell, all bumpy and blown out. The water’s clean, but the wind ruins it. The setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing this weekend.
The first real chance of a decent surf comes on Tuesday the 21st. The morning sees a 7ft swell from the E, with a 10-second period and a gentle cross-off breeze from the SE at 9 mph. The combined energy is 967 (moderate but solid). The conditions are clean and the forecast says expect very good surf. This is the standout. The afternoon drops a little to 6ft, still clean, still good. It’s a point break, so that longer period will offer some nice lines.
Wednesday the 22nd morning is still worth a look – 5ft from the E, 9-second period, and a light offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph. Clean, but the energy drops to 373 (moderate-low). It’s a smaller, cleaner day. The afternoon fades with a cross-shore breeze and not much push.
From Thursday the 23rd through to the end of the month, the surf drops off steadily. Heights fall from 4ft down to 0.7ft, with short periods and very ordinary conditions. There’s a small bump on Saturday the 25th morning with a 2ft swell and glassy conditions, but it’s barely worth a paddle. The energy is only 67 (weak). Several days of flat, poor surf follow.
Then, looking into the first week of August, there’s a promising sign on Saturday the 1st. The morning brings a 6ft swell from the SSE, 10-second period, with glassy conditions and a light WNW air. The combined energy is 621 (moderate), and the forecast says expect very good surf. The afternoon drops to 5ft, still clean with a cross-off breeze. That’s a solid weekend option, but being more than a week out, treat it as promising but not locked in.
So, the best on offer is Tuesday the 21st – that’s your go-to. Clean, solid 7ft easterly swell, gentle side-offshore breeze, and the point will handle that period well. After that, the weekend of the 1st of August looks like a good second call, but we’ll have to see how the forecast firms up.
Stay patient, keep the wax soft.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 17°C on Fri morning). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
832 | 1067 | 899 | 1091 | 1747 | 3060 | 2274 | 2082 | 1781 | 1635 | 1365 | 1275 | 967 | 682 | 434 | 373 | 320 | 275 | 199 | 189 | 162 | |
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-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:03AM1.16m | 10:23PM1.77m | 10:51AM1.18m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:46PM0.05m | 5:00AM0.06m | 4:35PM0.16m | 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 | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | |
mm | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 15 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | SSE 21 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 14 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
9 | 9 | 5 | 533 | 1747 | 43 | 37 | 63 | 55 | 38 | 1365 | 1275 | 967 | 682 | 434 | 373 | 320 | 275 | 199 | 189 | 162 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | — | — | S 22 | E 18 | S 24 | S 23 | S 17 | — | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 |
33 | 31 | — | — | 82 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 6 | — | 57 | 75 | 70 | 62 | 58 | 35 | 31 | 32 | 17 | 20 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 20 | S 15 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | E 12 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | SSE 5 |
832 | 1067 | 899 | 1091 | 1788 | 3060 | 2274 | 2082 | 1781 | 1635 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 29 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 542 | 544 | 20 | 221 | 679 | 596 | 596 | 500 | 84 | 190 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










