Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 21 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
19.6° C
0.6° 

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 21 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, E swell with 397 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with ENE 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s 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 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 10s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Thu 23rd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Best Surf 1AM (Thu 23rd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Most Powerful 1AM (Wed 22nd Jul)5ft (1.5m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Emerald Beach. I’ll be straight with ya – we’ve got a bit of a dry spell to start, so don’t go waxing up just yet.

The real story for this stretch is gonna be a short window on Tuesday the 21st. That’s your best bet by a long shot. We see some east swell pushing through at about 5 feet, with a period of 10 seconds. That’s got decent energy behind it – you're looking at a combined energy of 474 (moderate wave energy). The water temp is sitting at a pretty average 67°F for July, nothing unusual there with the anomaly being -1°F. The wind's coming out of the south at 6 mph, which is a cross-offshore breeze, so it’ll be clean. It’s a point break that’s fairly consistent, so there should be waves rolling through. Keep your head on a swivel though, because the crowds can show up here often. The swell is coming from the east, which isn’t the ideal NE direction for this spot, but when it’s the only real game in town, you take what you can get. This is a solid intermediate-level wave at 5 feet – still fun for most.

Now, after that Tuesday afternoon, the outlook takes a nosedive. From Wednesday the 22nd all the way through to the end of the first week of August, we’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak, and mostly onshore junk. There are a few mornings with glassy conditions or light offshore breezes, like the morning of the 23rd (Thursday) with SSW wind at 3 mph, but the swell is tiny – just 3 feet and dropping fast, with low energy (169) and a short period of 9 seconds. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. You’ll see a few days where it’s just half a foot to just over a foot of swell with almost no energy to speak of – numbers like 12, 8, even zero later on. That’s not surf, that’s a lake.

There is one oddball late in the run: the morning of August 1st has a half-foot swell but with a very long 18-second period and a strong 18 mph SSW offshore wind. That’s a weird combo – the period is massive for such a tiny wave, and the wind is howling. For a point break that needs NE swell, it’s really not offering anything. Don’t get your hopes up.

So, to sum it up: if you’ve got a free slot on Tuesday the 21st, that afternoon is your standout. It’s the only time in this whole 16-day window where the stars line up for a proper session. After that, it’s a long, quiet stretch. Don’t be too bummed though – this area can turn around, and forecasts change. But for now, that Tuesday is the one and only call.

Stay stoked, catch ya in the water.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
1
0
1
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)
1.6
E
10
1.5
E
9
1.3
ENE
9
1.4
ENE
9
1.3
ENE
9
1
ENE
9
0.9
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
8
0.6
ENE
8
0.5
ENE
8
0.6
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.4
NE
8
0.4
NE
8
0.3
ENE
7
0.2
ENE
8
0.2
ENE
7
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
474
397
302
300
249
166
125
90
51
37
59
28
17
15
11
6
5
13
11
11
Wind (km/h)
10
S
5
N
10
NNW
20
NE
5
WSW
5
SSW
10
E
10
WSW
25
S
25
SSE
10
W
10
NNW
5
ENE
5
W
15
S
20
S
15
SW
15
SSW
15
S
5
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
on
cross-on
on
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
1:29AM1.04m
2:44PM1.24m
2:30AM0.92m
3:44PM1.27m
3:40AM0.86m
4:41PM1.31m
4:50AM0.85m
5:32PM1.37m
5:47AM0.88m
6:17PM1.44m
6:35AM0.92m
6:58PM1.51m
Low Tide
7:50PM0.51m
7:47AM0.28m
9:09PM0.54m
8:37AM0.34m
10:29PM0.52m
9:33AM0.36m
11:34PM0.46m
10:31AM0.36m
00:24AM0.39m
11:24AM0.32m
1:05AM0.32m
12:11PM0.27m
1:42AM0.26m
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
5:09
5:09
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
17
17
21
20
17
18
18
16
14
14
12
16
16
13
16
16
14
16
17
16
Feels °C
17
17
18
17
16
16
16
15
8
8
8
13
13
10
12
12
11
13
14
14
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  • 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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