Surf Forecasts:
Elliott Heads surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, E swell with 545 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Elliott Heads this week:
The surf forecast for Elliott Heads over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Elliott Heads in the next 16 days are 1.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Elliott Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for Elliott Heads. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing special coming up, so don’t be in a rush to wax the board.
Right now, and for the immediate future, it’s a tough watch. The forecast shows a solid run of poor surf conditions that’s going to last a while. From Tuesday the 21st of July, all the way through to the end of July, there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, often under 3 ft, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, messing up any chance of a clean face. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting between 15 and 229, which is just not enough to get excited about. It’s a real flat spell.
We’re looking at a gap of about 10 days where there’s nothing to recommend. The first glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Sunday, the 2nd of August. In the morning, we might see a slight improvement with a 4 ft ENE swell and a cross-offshore wind from the NNW at 9 mph, making for clean conditions. The combined energy bumps up to 106, which is still only moderate, but it’s the first sign of life. The afternoon gets a bit windier, but the swell holds.
The following Monday, the 3rd of August, the swell picks up a touch more to 4 ft from the ENE with a period of 7 seconds. The wind looks good, cross-off from the WNW at 16 mph, keeping the surface clean. The energy is a bit stronger at 163. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got.
Then Tuesday the 4th of August holds a little promise. The morning shows a 3 ft ENE swell with clean cross-off winds from the SSW at 9 mph. The real standout is the Tuesday afternoon: the wind drops to nothing, going glassy from the WNW at 3 mph. That’s the best chance for a truly clean, smooth surface on a 3 ft ENE swell. The energy is low at 76, but the glassy conditions are a rare treat. Wednesday the 5th of August again offers clean, cross-off conditions with a 4 ft ENE swell.
So, the whole 16-day window is a challenge. The standout window is the few days from the 2nd to the 5th of August, with Tuesday the 4th afternoon being the absolute best bet for a clean, glassy session. The rest of it is a write-off. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual to report.
Keep your eyes on the forecast, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Mon night, light winds from the SSE by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 9 | E 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 320 | 163 | 114 | 83 | 80 | 126 | 147 | 92 | 67 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 35 | 29 | 28 | 21 | 34 | 35 | 22 |
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-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:03AM2.27m | 2:05PM2.17m | 1:58AM2.07m | 3:14PM2.19m | 3:02AM1.93m | 4:24PM2.26m | 4:12AM1.86m | 5:23PM2.37m | 5:15AM1.86m | 6:12PM2.51m | 6:08AM1.91m | 6:52PM2.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:29AM0.77m | 7:58PM1.16m | 8:23AM0.84m | 9:19PM1.26m | 9:23AM0.87m | 10:48PM1.25m | 10:25AM0.85m | 11:59PM1.15m | 11:21AM0.80m | 00:49AM1.02m | 12:08PM0.72m | 1:27AM0.90m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 9 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 320 | 163 | 114 | 83 | 27 | 126 | 147 | 92 | 67 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 35 | 14 | 23 | 13 | 34 | 35 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 6 | — | ENE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 10 | E 6 | ENE 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 14 | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | 9 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | SE 3 | ESE 2 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | E 5 | SSE 3 | SE 3 | — |
| kJ | 49 | 66 | 59 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 29 | 28 | 21 | 1 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 376 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 132 | 86 | 86 | 132 | 0 | 86 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 132 | 95 | 86 | 173 | 84 |
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Information about the Elliott Heads Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Elliott Heads provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Elliott Heads can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Elliott Heads 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 (Elliott Heads) 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 Elliott Heads 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.
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