
Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with 671 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with NNE 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 (Aug 11) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. 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 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 2.1m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s chew the fat on Broken Head, matey.
First week is a total dud. The swell is tiny, the wind’s messy, and the energy numbers are pathetic – down in the single and low double digits. You’re lookin’ at waist-high slop and cross-onshore junk. Save your wax. This flat spell drags out through the first seven days or so.
Then, she starts to wake up around Saturday the 15th of August, with a bit of size but still pretty raw. The real bonanza hits on Tuesday the 18th of August. That morning at Broken Head (point), we’ve got a solid 8ft of south-east groundswell, with a long period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is a heavy 1235, meaning there’s proper grunt in the water. Wind is a light offshore from the SSW at just 6 mph, so the face will be clean as a whistle, smooth, and perfect for experienced surfers. At this size, it’s too big for learners, but for the crew that can handle it, it’s the best session on offer. The swell direction is off the optimum ENE, but the quality of the wave and the conditions make it the standout. Water temp is 68°, which is pretty average for the season, with a slight anomaly of -0.9° – nothing special.
That Tuesday is the clear peak. From there, the following days offer good to very good conditions, but nothing else hits that same high note. Wednesday the 19th has 7ft from the ESE with light offshore winds again, energy at 767. Thursday the 20th is similar. Then on Friday the 21st, we get a glassy morning – dead calm, no wind – and 6ft of clean easterly swell. That Friday will be a dream, uncrowded, and the water like a mirror.
Into the second week, the swell drops a bit but stays consistent. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd have 5ft to 5ft of clean easterly swell, best in the mornings with light offshore breezes. Then Monday the 24th serves up another glassy morning with 5ft and a long 11-second period, energy at 567 – a very fun, user-friendly day for anyone on a log or a funboard, with the swell direction holding more easterly, closer to that perfect ENE angle for the point.
So, to sum it up: right now it’s flat, but it builds into a solid run of clean, quality surf in the second half. Mark your calendar for the 18th for the big stuff, or the 21st for perfect, glassy conditions.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun morning, fresh winds from the N by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | N 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
185 | 146 | 119 | 243 | 225 | 111 | 78 | 78 | 87 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 60 | 42 | 44 | 28 | 28 | 355 | 284 | 299 | 97 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:19PM1.64m | 5:40AM0.98m | 6:15PM1.78m | 6:35AM1.05m | 7:05PM1.87m | 7:24AM1.13m | 7:50PM1.91m | 8:08AM1.21m | 8:32PM1.88m | 8:51AM1.27m | 9:11PM1.78m | 9:34AM1.31m | 9:48PM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:21AM0.20m | 00:14AM0.22m | 11:25AM0.11m | 1:05AM0.11m | 12:20PM0.03m | 1:49AM0.04m | 1:10PM-0.04m | 2:28AM-0.00m | 1:57PM-0.05m | 3:05AM-0.01m | 2:42PM-0.02m | 3:40AM0.01m | 3:26PM0.07m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 7 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 7 |
185 | 146 | 119 | 120 | 225 | 111 | 53 | 78 | 87 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 58 | 42 | 44 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 97 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | S 11 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | S 10 | S 9 | E 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | S 16 | S 15 | ENE 10 |
26 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 126 | 106 | 78 | 2 | 35 | 15 | 76 | 24 | 60 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 9 | S 8 | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | N 12 | S 9 | SSE 13 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | NE 10 | S 19 | S 19 | — | S 19 | NE 8 | N 8 | SE 9 |
11 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 32 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 7 | — | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | N 6 | WNW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | NNE 7 | NW 2 | SSW 8 | — | SW 4 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 |
— | 24 | 86 | 243 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 26 | — | 12 | 92 | 196 | 603 | 505 | 483 | 355 | 284 | 299 | 110 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 208 | 227 | 236 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 61 | 0 | 7 | 51 | 0 | 7 | 60 | 8 |
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.











