Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 3,362 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period with SSE 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be 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 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let's be straight up – it’s a long, frustrating wait for something decent on offer here at Broken Head. We've got a 16-day window ahead, but for the first few days, it’s looking pretty grim.
The trouble starts immediately. Through Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the wind is a problem. We're looking at a mix of cross-onshore breezes and then strong, clean cross-offshore winds, but the swell is tiny and weak. On Tuesday morning, we’re scraping in with a pathetic 2 ft SSE swell (combined energy a measly 85). By Wednesday afternoon, a big 10 ft SSE swell jumps up (energy of 1286), but it's accompanied by strong 19 mph cross-offshore winds and the comment on the surf is marginal at best – definitely not one for the beginners as it's over 8 ft, and the setup looks messy. Honestly, that Wednesday afternoon and Thursday with 10 ft and 8 ft SSE swells and that stiff south wind might be more interesting for kite surfing than a proper paddle session.
Then there’s a bit of a gap in the quality as we wait. Friday morning on the 18th offers some hope. We get a cleaner 6 ft SSE swell with light cross-offshore winds from the SSW at 6 mph. The combined energy is a moderate 478, suggesting some push. It’s a small window though, and the afternoon turns to onshore crap. Saturday and Sunday bring glassy conditions on the 20th, but the swell is tiny – 3 ft on Sunday morning – so it's surfable but forgettable.
Now, the real standout? It’s a frustrating tease. The 'best' on offer, and I’m using that term loosely, is Wednesday the 23rd. There's a long-period 18-second SSE groundswell showing up at 2 ft in the morning, but it’s pushed by a moderate cross-onshore breeze. The energy is high for that size, hitting 730, telling you there’s some juice in the water, but the conditions are rough. A long period swell like that, over 15 seconds, can be tricky at a beach break and wants a point or reef, but with that wind, it’s just a messy, choppy affair.
Honestly, the one moment to keep an eye on is Friday the 18th morning. That’s it. That’s the only time where you’ve got a decent size swell (6 ft) with clean cross-offshore wind. Everything else is blown out, too small, or just plain poor. Keep your expectations real low, and check the forecast again. It’s been a patchy run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed night, light winds from the SSW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 16 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | N 4 | SSE 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 64 | 62 | 39 | 15 | 1282 | 3362 | 2050 | 1422 | 856 | 474 | 119 | 234 | 87 | 53 | 16 | 144 | 102 | 14 | 30 | 26 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | glassy | on | off |
High Tide | 10:20AM1.43m | 10:20PM1.14m | 11:03AM1.36m | 10:58PM1.00m | 11:54AM1.29m | 11:46PM0.89m | 12:58PM1.22m | 1:01AM0.81m | 2:17PM1.20m | 2:42AM0.79m | 3:31PM1.25m | 4:02AM0.85m | 4:28PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:34PM0.32m | 4:24AM0.21m | 5:24PM0.43m | 4:59AM0.30m | 6:26PM0.52m | 5:44AM0.39m | 7:51PM0.57m | 6:49AM0.45m | 9:27PM0.54m | 8:16AM0.47m | 10:34PM0.47m | 9:34AM0.43m | 11:17PM0.37m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | E 13 | NE 13 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 8 | N 4 |
| kJ | 64 | 38 | 39 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 856 | 474 | 194 | 234 | 194 | 154 | 114 | 144 | 102 | 74 | 47 | 24 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 12 | SSE 10 | E 14 | S 17 | — | — | NE 13 | E 12 | E 7 | SE 8 | SSE 18 | SE 9 | SE 8 | N 4 | NNE 4 | E 8 | N 4 | NNE 4 | SSE 16 | S 10 |
| kJ | 16 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 6 | — | — | 7 | 3 | 1 | 119 | 126 | 62 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 26 | 31 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 15 | E 12 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | S 19 | E 12 | SSE 19 | E 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SE 7 | SSE 16 | SSE 18 | S 18 | SSE 18 | E 8 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 37 | 1 | 87 | 53 | 16 | 26 | 30 | 6 | 30 | 1 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | NE 5 | NNW 4 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | — |
| kJ | 3 | 62 | 27 | 619 | 1282 | 3362 | 2050 | 1422 | 1065 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 10 | — | 1 | 14 | — | 6 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 1720 | 7 | 264 | 1324 | 80 | 156 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 654 | 2 | 2 | 208 | 2 |
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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