Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, NNE swell with 392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period with NE 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Emerald Beach in the next 16 days are 2.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let's have a good look at what's on the cards for the coming weeks at our local gem. To be honest, it's a bit of a slow burn for the next stretch, so don't get your hopes up just yet.
We've got a decent window shaping up for the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August. That's the standout. The water temp is sitting around 68°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
Wednesday morning, 26 August is the session to circle. We'll have a clean 5 ft swell rolling in from the NE, with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is forecast to be glassy, absolutely dead calm, which is a rare treat and will keep the surface like a mirror. The combined energy is in the moderate range at 212. Emerald Beach is a point break, and with the swell coming from the NE, it's bang on the optimum direction. Just be aware it's an exposed spot and the crowds are often there, so expect company if you want the pick of the waves on that morning.
For the rest of the week, things drop off pretty quick. Wednesday afternoon sees the swell back off to 4 ft with a weak cross-shore, and from Thursday the 27th right through to Tuesday the 1st of September, we're looking at small, weak surf. Waves will be around 1 ft to 3 ft, with combined energy ratings mostly under 100. There are clean windows with offshore wind on Thursday morning and Saturday morning (29 August), but the swell is just too small to get excited about. It's surfable but very ordinary.
There's a gap of a few days with nothing worth paddling out for from the 30th of August through to the 2nd of September. The models do flicker some life back towards the end of the second week. On the morning of Friday the 4th of September, we get a brief look at a 3 ft NE swell with a gentle offshore breeze (12 mph) from the S, keeping things clean. But at 3 ft, it's marginal. Then on Monday the 7th of September, we see a 4 ft SE swell pop up, but the wind is a messy moderate cross-onshore (16 mph) from the NNW, which will chop it up.
Overall, Wednesday morning, the 26th of August is your best bet. Score the glassy conditions while you can. The rest of the window is mainly small and weak.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 6 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 171 | 392 | 212 | 173 | 111 | 98 | 103 | 80 | 51 | 56 | 51 | 57 | 59 | 59 | 57 | 52 | 42 | 40 | 26 | 61 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross | off | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:31PM1.49m | 6:52AM1.03m | 7:06PM1.56m | 7:28AM1.11m | 7:40PM1.60m | 8:03AM1.20m | 8:13PM1.60m | 8:38AM1.27m | 8:46PM1.57m | 9:14AM1.34m | 9:20PM1.51m | 9:52AM1.39m | 9:57PM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:11AM0.22m | 12:33PM0.22m | 1:42AM0.15m | 1:12PM0.16m | 2:11AM0.09m | 1:51PM0.13m | 2:41AM0.05m | 2:30PM0.12m | 3:11AM0.03m | 3:10PM0.14m | 3:41AM0.03m | 3:54PM0.17m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 11 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | ENE 9 | SSE 10 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | E 9 | S 9 | S 16 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 53 | 20 | 212 | 173 | 111 | 98 | 103 | 320 | 276 | 153 | 449 | 338 | 59 | 680 | 57 | 96 | 42 | 328 | 1021 | 345 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | N 13 | S 11 | S 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | N 15 | ENE 10 | S 19 | S 17 | SSE 8 | S 13 |
| kJ | 20 | 44 | 46 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 80 | 51 | 280 | 51 | 57 | 59 | 59 | 4 | 52 | 66 | 841 | 197 | 112 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 16 | S 10 | S 9 | N 13 | S 15 | N 12 | S 15 | S 14 | ENE 8 | NNE 6 | NE 11 | N 7 | NE 10 | N 10 | N 15 | NE 13 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 11 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 39 | 60 | 56 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 40 | 26 | 61 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NNE 7 | — | ESE 2 | S 5 | S 6 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | S 5 | SSE 11 | — | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 171 | 392 | — | 1 | 52 | 182 | 253 | — | — | — | — | 42 | 634 | — | 509 | 251 | 541 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 260 | 98 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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