Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,731 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. 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 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 3.5m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 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
Imperial Version
Alright, let’s talk surf. The next few days are pretty quiet—nothing to get too excited about. Monday morning has a small 3ft swell from the SSE with an 11-second period, but the energy is weak at 183. It’s glassy, but it’s small and a bit same-old. Water temp is about normal for the time of year.
After that, it goes flat and choppy through Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Then Wednesday afternoon, the ocean wakes up—but not for the faint-hearted. We’re looking at 10ft of short-period SSE swell, energy jumping to 1286. It’s raw and lumpy, and the short period makes it messy. Thursday stays big, with 11-12ft waves and energy over 2000. This is expert-only territory. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but the size is intimidating.
Friday morning the 18th is your first real gem. Swell backs off to around 6ft from the SSE, energy 655, and we’ve got proper offshore SSW wind at 9 mph. This is clean, lined-up, and Broken Head will have some nice shape to it. This is the pick of the first week. Friday afternoon turns a bit cross-shore, so the magic fades.
The weekend is small and onshore—Saturday is a washout, and Sunday morning has just 2ft of glassy leftovers. Monday is tiny.
Then keep an eye on Tuesday the 22nd. Early morning, we’ve got a solid 10ft of SSE swell at 10 seconds, energy 1448, and it’s clean with light winds. Another big day, but the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is the other standout—big, clean, and powerful. Afternoon remains 8ft but gets a bit cross-on.
From the 23rd through the 25th, it’s poor again—choppy, onshore, and lumpy. Thursday the 24th has 5ft but fresh cross-onshore winds make it ugly. Friday is small and stormy.
The last stretch (26th-29th) is mostly flat. There’s a tiny clean window on Sunday the 27th morning with 2ft and offshore wind, but it’s marginal. The 28th and 29th are weak and unimpressive.
So, bottom line: Friday morning the 18th is your fun, clean session. Tuesday morning the 22nd is the big-water highlight for the experienced crew. Everything else is either flat, messy, or too big to be comfortable.
Pick your moments, and don’t force it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the S by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed night, calm by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 188 | 161 | 116 | 97 | 64 | 56 | 41 | 21 | 1282 | 2731 | 2167 | 1919 | 1234 | 651 | 474 | 95 | 274 | 277 | 97 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 2:17PM1.20m | 2:42AM0.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:49AM0.45m | 9:27PM0.54m | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | ENE 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | E 13 | NE 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 188 | 161 | 116 | 34 | 64 | 56 | 41 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 651 | 474 | 194 | 274 | 277 | 84 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | E 5 | E 10 | SSE 11 | E 6 | E 12 | SSE 10 | E 14 | S 17 | — | NE 13 | NE 13 | — | E 8 | NE 12 | SE 8 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | S 9 |
| kJ | 26 | 20 | 2 | 97 | 15 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 6 | — | 7 | 7 | — | 1 | 6 | 95 | 59 | 90 | 78 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | NE 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 15 | E 12 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | NE 16 | E 12 | S 19 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 17 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 97 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 6 | — | N 3 | NNE 5 | NNW 4 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 24 | — | 2 | 56 | 25 | 619 | 1282 | 2731 | 2167 | 1919 | 1234 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 61 | 2 | 45 | 236 | 7 | 264 | 1324 | 266 | 7 | 266 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 45 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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