Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
20.0°C
0.2° 

Emerald Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Emerald Beach surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, SE swell with 284 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with NNE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Emerald Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Emerald Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) 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 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sun 6th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Best Surf 1AM (Wed 9th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Most Powerful 1AM (Wed 9th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, lookin’ at the next couple of weeks for Emerald Beach.

Honestly, this is a tough one. The outlook is pretty flat for the bulk of the next 16 days. We’re lookin’ at a long stretch of small, weak waves, and findin’ a proper session will be a real challenge. The best chance at anything decent comes right at the very end, but even then, it’s not a world-beater.

Let’s start with Sunday, September 6th. There’s a small pulse of swell in the mornin’, with waves comin’ in at 3ft from the north-northeast. The period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s pretty weak, with combined energy sittin’ at 85 (moderate). The wind is a cross-off from the SSE, so it’s surfable, but it’s nothin’ to write home about. By the afternoon, the wind picks up to 18 mph and the quality drops off.

From Monday the 7th all the way through to Saturday the 19th of September, it’s a real struggle. The swell drops to 1ft to 2ft on most days, with periods that are all over the place. We get some decent offshore winds in the mornin’s, like on Monday the 7th (S 6 mph) and Tuesday the 8th (SSW 15 mph), but the swell is just too small to do anythin’ with. The combined energy is mostly in the 20-50 range, which is weak. It’s the kind of period where you’d be spendin’ more time floatin’ than ridin’.

Then we get to the final weekend and into the third week. On Saturday, the 19th of September, the swell tries to pick up a bit in the afternoon, hittin’ 4ft from the north-northeast. But the period is a short 5 seconds, and the wind is onshore from the NNE. The combined energy is 61 (moderate), but it’s not clean. The best bet in this whole window is actually Monday, the 14th of September, but it’s a poor one. There’s a sudden spike of 3ft from the NE, but with a period of only 4 seconds, it’s a messy, wind-swell combo. The offshore wind is gone by then, and it’s onshore from the NNE.

For the standout, if you had to pick the best of a bad bunch, it’s the mornin’ of Sunday the 6th. The 3ft NNE swell with a cross-off breeze is the cleanest we’ll see. At Emerald Beach, a point break, it needs that NE direction to work, and it’s the only time the direction and wind align reasonably. It’s still small, but it’s the only window with a score that’s not a zero. Expect crowds to be possible, as it’s often busy.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.

So, to sum it up: a long, flat run with a tiny, marginal window on the 6th and then again a messy pulse on the 19th. It’s not lookin’ great, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 24°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Tue night, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed night).

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
NNE
5
0.9
NNE
6
0.8
NNE
7
0.5
NNE
7
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
E
10
0.3
ENE
10
1.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
11
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.4
SE
10
0.5
SE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
53
67
56
26
16
15
17
17
18
284
19
16
15
37
43
9
18
18
19
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
15
SSE
30
SSE
15
SW
10
S
15
ESE
10
SSW
25
SSW
25
S
15
SW
5
NE
15
ESE
30
SSW
25
S
25
S
20
SSW
20
S
20
SSE
20
SSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
3:18AM0.88m
3:58PM1.49m
4:39AM0.93m
5:03PM1.57m
5:41AM1.03m
5:58PM1.65m
6:31AM1.15m
6:45PM1.69m
7:16AM1.26m
7:28PM1.69m
7:57AM1.35m
8:08PM1.63m
Low Tide
8:58AM0.33m
11:01PM0.26m
10:16AM0.28m
11:57PM0.16m
11:22AM0.20m
00:42AM0.07m
12:17PM0.12m
1:21AM0.01m
1:06PM0.07m
1:57AM-0.02m
1:52PM0.05m
2:30AM-0.02m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:56
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
 mm
2
2
2
Temp °C
23
24
19
17
19
19
18
18
18
16
17
18
16
18
17
15
18
18
17
Feels °C
21
22
13
13
16
17
17
13
13
13
15
16
13
12
12
11
14
15
15
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Emerald Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Emerald Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Emerald Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Emerald Beach 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 (Emerald Beach) 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 Emerald Beach 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 North Coast - New South Wales? If you are looking for accommodation near Emerald Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in North Coast - New South Wales, consider staying in Coffs Harbour which is 21 km (13 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in South Grafton which is 53 km (33 miles) away

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