Broken Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.71° S 153.62° E

Broken Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Broken Head sea temperature is
20.5°C
0.6° 

Broken Head surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Broken Head surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 3,178 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with SE 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. 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 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) 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 4.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 13th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 8s
Best Surf 7AM (Fri 18th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 7AM (Thu 17th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the waves ahead at Broken Head.

The next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag. We start with a few days of barely-surfable dribble, then a serious pulse of energy swings through mid-next week, but you’ll need to be on your game and pick the windows. After that, it fades back into skinny, choppy nothingness.

Alright, from the top. Saturday the 12th is a write-off – rain showers, a cross-shore wind, and sloppy 5ft slop from the SE. Wait it out. Sunday the 13th is still ordinary: morning has marginal 4ft SE swell with a light cross-shore, but the combo energy is moderate (497), so there’s some push there if you’re desperate. Afternoon gets worse as the wind turns cross-on.

Monday the 14th morning is the first real chance to get wet. Glassy conditions, a dribbly 3ft SSE swell with a period of 11 seconds. Energy is light-moderate (183). It’s surfable but nothing special – you’ll be scratching for a ripple. The water temp is 69°, about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Then things go flat and wind-affected Tuesday and Wednesday the 15th and 16th. Tiny waves, onshore breezes, not worth paddling out.

But hold onto your board – Thursday the 17th brings a massive injection of power. We’re talking 13ft SSE swell on Thursday morning, with combined energy screaming at 2987 – that’s very strong energy. Problem is, it’s accompanied by a fresh 18-22 mph southerly cross-off wind. The reports flag marginal conditions, but for experienced surfers only, this is a beast. Sets will be thumping, and with that much size (over 8ft), it’s strictly for the well-prepared crew. The swell period is 10 seconds, so it’s a bit raw and not the cleanest groundswell.

The standout window arrives Friday the 18th morning. The swell drops to a still-chunky 8ft from the SSE, period 9 seconds, but here’s the kicker: offshore winds from the SSW at 12 mph. Clean, lined-up, powerful waves. Combined energy is 1143 – strong – and conditions are rated excellent for experienced surfers. This is the pick of the forecast. The swell direction (SSE) is not quite the optimum ENE that Broken Head loves, but with offshore wind and that size, it’ll still offer some heavy, well-shaped walls. The break is a point, fairly consistent, and crowds are often a factor here – expect company.

After that, the swell backs off through the weekend and into the following week. Saturday the 19th morning has 6ft from the ESE, light cross-on wind, and moderate energy (843), but it’s marginal. By Sunday the 20th, we’re back to small, choppy, onshore junk. From Monday the 21st right through to Sunday the 27th, it’s a long stretch of poor surf – tiny swells, wrong winds, and mostly cross or onshore. There’s a brief flicker of hope on Sunday the 27th morning with clean conditions and 4ft NE swell, but with only 144 energy, it’s barely a ripple.

So to wrap it up: the best on offer is Friday the 18th morning – solid 8ft SSE groundswell, offshore wind, and plenty of power. If that’s too big for you, Monday the 14th morning is your only other clean, small-wave window. After that, it’s a long blank spell.

Stay safe, and don’t get too excited about the long-range stuff – it’s a way off yet.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue night, strong winds from the S by Wed afternoon).

Sat
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
3
4
2
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SE
8
1.4
SE
8
1.3
SE
10
1.1
SE
10
1.1
SE
9
0.9
SSE
11
0.8
SSE
10
0.6
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
11
1.2
NNE
5
0.7
ENE
6
0.5
E
6
0.1
E
13
0.2
ENE
13
4
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
9
1.9
SE
11
1.9
SE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
274
229
355
235
188
161
116
97
64
57
27
19
4
17
2980
2223
1785
1133
762
978
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
10
SSE
10
SE
10
E
5
NE
5
E
20
NE
15
NNW
15
N
25
NNE
15
NNW
35
S
35
S
30
SSW
30
S
35
S
25
S
20
SSW
15
SSE
10
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
8:38PM1.58m
9:03AM1.46m
9:12PM1.44m
9:41AM1.46m
9:46PM1.29m
10:20AM1.43m
10:20PM1.14m
11:03AM1.36m
10:58PM1.00m
11:54AM1.29m
11:46PM0.89m
12:58PM1.22m
1:01AM0.81m
Low Tide
2:54AM0.02m
3:07PM0.12m
3:23AM0.07m
3:50PM0.21m
3:53AM0.13m
4:34PM0.32m
4:24AM0.21m
5:24PM0.43m
4:59AM0.30m
6:26PM0.52m
5:44AM0.39m
7:51PM0.57m
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:47
5:45
5:43
5:43
5:41
5:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:36
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:38
 mm
2
1
2
2
2
1
Temp °C
18
18
19
19
17
19
18
17
22
21
18
17
18
16
16
16
15
18
18
17
Feels °C
15
17
16
17
16
17
15
15
19
18
14
11
10
8
10
9
9
14
15
17
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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