Surf Forecasts:
Castles surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 18s period, SW swell with 2,485 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Castles this week:
The surf forecast for Castles over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Castles in the next 16 days are 2.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castles over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about what’s coming up here. This is all about Castles, a reef break that’s reliable and likes the swell from the WSW. Water temp is sittin’ around 59°, which is pretty average for this time of year, no big surprises there.
Thursday the 20th is a no-go. There’s a bit of swell, about 4ft from the SW with a long 16-second period, but the wind is cross-on and it’s messy. Energy’s at 723, so weak to moderate, but the conditions just aren’t there. I’d leave the board in the car.
Friday the 21st picks up to about 5-6ft, still from the SW, period still nice and long at 15-16 seconds. Energy jumps up between 1498 and 1580, so that’s a solid moderate-strong lump. But again, cross-on wind and choppy. It’s surfable, but not pretty.
Now, Saturday morning the 22nd – that’s your first real standout. Offshore wind from the NE at about 6 mph, a clean 5ft SW swell with a 15-second period, and combined energy of 1302. This is the best early window, with excellent conditions for the more experienced surfer. Water will be clean, lines will hold up. Don’t miss that morning paddle.
Sunday the 23rd afternoon is also worth a look. Swell drops a bit to about 5ft, still from the SW, period even longer at 16 seconds, and come afternoon it turns glassy with a light SSE breeze. Energy is down at 979, so it’s more moderate, but glassy conditions at a reef with a long-period groundswell? That’s the kind of session that’ll have you stoked. Just know the long period means longer waits between sets – but makes paddlin’ out easier.
After that, there’s a lull. Monday the 24th has small 3ft waves with offshore wind in the morning, but it’s weak. Then Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th are blown out or just mediocre – lumpy, cross-on winds and dropping energy. Not worth it.
Thursday the 27th afternoon shows a spike – 6ft from the SW, period a chunky 19 seconds, and energy hits 2402, so strong. Wind is cross-off and clean from the north. That’s a big, raw groundswell, but at a reef like Castles, that long period could make ’em a bit straight. Still, for experienced surfers, it could be a memorable session.
Friday the 28th afternoon, the swell swings a bit more WSW, hits 8ft with a 16-second period, and the energy is 3500 – that’s strong. Wind is cross-off and clean. That’s a big one, and at that size and period, it’s for the experienced crew only.
Saturday the 29th morning is the other standout – offshore NE wind at about 16 mph, 8ft from the WSW, period 14 seconds, energy at 1865. It’s big, it’s clean, and it’s offshore. That’s a proper session for those who can handle it.
After that, things wind down a bit. Sunday the 30th into Monday the 31st has some size but the wind turns cross-on or onshore, and it’s messy. Tuesday the 1st of September morning looks clean with 5ft from the WSW and light offshore wind, period 11 seconds – that’s a decent, more manageable option.
From Wednesday the 2nd onward, the wind gets stronger and more onshore, and by Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th, it’s just blown out. Poor conditions, lumpy, onshore wind. Not your time.
So overall, the standout windows are Saturday morning the 22nd for cleaner, more manageable waves, and Friday afternoon the 28th and Saturday morning the 29th for the big, powerful groundswell – but only if you’ve got the skills for that kind of juice.
That’s the word from me. Catch you in the water.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the SSW by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
574 | 1135 | 1048 | 1511 | 1402 | 1216 | 936 | 924 | 1388 | 979 | 623 | 393 | 327 | 1055 | 1028 | 1011 | 917 | 537 | 335 | 235 | |
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 | off | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:19AM0.92m | 1:48PM0.84m | 3:31AM0.80m | 12:48PM0.83m | 2:55AM0.66m | 11:50AM0.92m | 1:02AM0.62m | 11:40AM1.06m | 00:18AM0.68m | 11:50AM1.19m | 00:13AM0.78m | 12:06PM1.30m | 00:22AM0.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:36PM0.13m | 8:44AM0.56m | 8:33PM0.21m | 7:56AM0.66m | 8:02PM0.28m | 5:37AM0.64m | 7:09PM0.28m | 5:03AM0.50m | 6:40PM0.23m | 5:15AM0.35m | 6:35PM0.15m | 5:35AM0.21m | 6:40PM0.08m | |||||||
— | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
574 | 1135 | 1048 | 1511 | 1402 | 1216 | 936 | 924 | 1388 | 979 | 623 | 393 | 327 | — | 1028 | 1011 | 917 | 537 | 335 | 235 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | SW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 23 | SW 21 | SW 19 | — | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 17 | SW 16 |
58 | 303 | 375 | — | — | 86 | 285 | 369 | — | — | — | 15 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | 75 | 91 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | WSW 24 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 56 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | NE 3 | — | SW 16 | SSW 6 | SW 15 | — | N 3 | — | NNE 3 |
91 | 61 | 75 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1055 | 47 | 54 | — | 1 | — | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1045 | 552 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 491 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 491 | 491 | 491 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nullarbor | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Castles Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Castles provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Castles can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Castles 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 (Castles) 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 Castles 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Nullarbor? If you are looking for accommodation near Castles, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nullarbor, consider staying in Thevenard which is 64 km (40 miles) away.











