
Surf Forecasts:
Cape Paterson surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 11s period, WSW swell with 7,493 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Paterson this week:
The surf forecast for Cape Paterson over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cape Paterson in the next 16 days are 6.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Paterson over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m Rusty, and here’s the goods in feet and degrees.
First up, this spot, Cape Paterson. It’s a sheltered beach and reef setup, and it’s an advanced wave. The water temp is sitting at about 14°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, nothing crazy.
We’re looking at a bit of a slow start. The first real sniff of something rideable comes on Friday the 7th, but it’s not great. The morning has a 5ft swell from the WSW with a 15-second period, but the wind is cross-on and it’s choppy. The combined energy is at 1253 (moderate), but it’s just poor. The afternoon is a little cleaner with a light breeze, but still a marginal call.
Saturday the 8th is a step up. The morning has a 5ft WSW swell, 16-second period, with a clean cross-off wind. The afternoon is similar, 5ft from the SW with a 16-second period and clean. The combined energy drops to 993 (moderate) and 1155 (moderate) for the morning. These are the best on offer for the first week – clean, lined up, but not massive.
Sunday the 9th is a write-off with a fresh offshore wind and weak, small swell. The energy drops to 588 (weak) and 570 (weak). Really not worth paddling out.
Then everything goes a bit wild. From Monday the 10th through to Friday the 14th, we get a big pulse of swell, but it’s all blown out. The wind is strong, mostly cross-on or onshore, and the surf is messy. The combined energy peaks at 7493 (strong) on Monday afternoon with a 20ft swell, but it’s a washing machine. This is more for the kite surfers than paddle surfers. The period on that big one is only 11 seconds, so it’s a windswell, not a clean groundswell.
Saturday the 15th is a bit of a tease. We get an 8ft swell from the SW with a long 17-second period, but the wind is light cross and cross-on, making it a bit lumpy. The energy is 4293 (strong) in the morning, but it’s only a marginal forecast.
Now, the standout window. Sunday the 16th morning is looking excellent. The swell is 6ft from the SW with a 14-second period, and it’s glassy. The combined energy is 1220 (moderate). This is clean, lined up, and the best session of the forecast. The afternoon is a bit onshore.
Monday the 17th morning is also glassy, with a 4ft WSW swell, 14-second period. Good conditions, but smaller.
Tuesday the 18th morning is another highlight. A 4ft swell from the SW with a very long 18-second period, and a clean cross-off wind. The energy is 1468 (moderate). This is a proper groundswell and will be a gem at a reef or point, but at a beach break it might run a bit straight.
The rest of the second week sees a few clean mornings with small to moderate swell, but nothing that really stands out like Sunday the 16th or Tuesday the 18th.
Then on Saturday the 22nd, we get a big 13ft swell from the WSW with a short 10-second period, and a clean cross-off wind. The energy is 3060 (strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers, but the short period means it’s going to be a bit crumbly and messy. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
So, the best of the lot: Sunday the 16th morning for the glassy, clean conditions on a solid 6ft swell, and Tuesday the 18th morning for the long period groundswell and clean lines. Stick to those windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Mon morning, near gales from the W by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | W 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1056 | 1190 | 818 | 1155 | 993 | 886 | 467 | 368 | 557 | 3575 | 7493 | 1642 | 1933 | 1049 | 512 | 1472 | 4437 | 3561 | 6743 | 6106 | 5298 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:19PM0.76m | 6:25AM0.74m | 6:01PM0.75m | 7:21AM0.73m | 6:49PM0.73m | 8:23AM0.72m | 7:46PM0.71m | 9:32AM0.71m | 8:55PM0.69m | 10:42AM0.72m | 10:13PM0.68m | 11:47AM0.74m | 11:33PM0.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:26AM0.24m | 11:52PM0.05m | 12:12PM0.28m | 00:40AM0.04m | 1:04PM0.31m | 1:35AM0.04m | 2:05PM0.34m | 2:38AM0.06m | 3:16PM0.35m | 3:47AM0.07m | 4:34PM0.34m | 4:57AM0.08m | 5:47PM0.29m | ||||||||
7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
— | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 10 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | -3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | ESE 10 | — | SW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 17 | WSW 20 | WSW 17 | — | — | WSW 15 |
1056 | 1190 | 818 | 1155 | 993 | 886 | 467 | 368 | 499 | 9 | — | 1193 | 1933 | 1049 | 512 | 940 | 505 | 1627 | — | — | 1966 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 18 | — | NNW 4 | — | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | SW 20 | N 5 | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | SW 18 | WSW 12 | SW 19 | — | — | — | — |
120 | 69 | 460 | — | 13 | — | 121 | 202 | 557 | 7 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 154 | 190 | 627 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 20 | SW 6 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | ESE 5 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | SE 12 | — | WSW 20 | — | — | — | — |
— | 188 | 19 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 5 | 31 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 596 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | — | NNW 3 | NW 4 | N 4 | NE 4 | N 4 | N 4 | WSW 19 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | W 12 | WSW 16 | WSW 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 |
77 | 46 | — | 6 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 3575 | 7493 | 1642 | 26 | 46 | 149 | 1472 | 4437 | 3561 | 6743 | 6106 | 5298 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 20 | 5 | 20 | 120 | 443 | 113 | 126 | 140 | 289 | 141 | 141 | 423 | 117 | 114 | 117 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Coast of Victoria | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cape Paterson Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cape Paterson provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cape Paterson can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cape Paterson 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 (Cape Paterson) 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 Cape Paterson 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.
Cape Paterson is 70 km (43 miles) from Cranbourne. If you plan a holiday in East Coast of Victoria, look for hotels and other accommodation in Cranbourne. Cranbourne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











