
Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with 1,177 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period with SE 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 8s 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
Alright, this is Rusty, your local surf reporter, checking in on the one and only spot we've got on the radar for the next 16 days.
Alright, let's be straight with you. The next week and a bit is looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We've got a long stretch of tiny or flat conditions, and only a couple of sessions that are truly worth getting excited about. The real standout is a solid window of clean, powerful surf arriving around the 20th of July.
Let's start with the bad news. From now through the 19th of July, it's mostly a write-off. The swell is tiny, barely a ripple, and the energy is weak (combined energy of all swells directed here is under 100). There's a few days of strong offshore winds, but with nothing to push back against, it's just a lot of wind and no waves. The exception is the afternoon of Friday the 17th, when a 8ft SE swell shows up, but it's a short period 8-second wind swell and the energy is only moderate (747). The score isn't high for this one, so it's a pass.
Now, here's the good stuff. The pulse we've been waiting for arrives on the morning of Saturday the 18th of July. The swell jumps to 8ft from the SE, with a period of 9 seconds, and the wave energy gets strong (1057). The wind is fresh and offshore from the South, which is a huge positive for clean conditions. This is punchy, powerful surf for confident surfers only. It's a bit raw, but it's the first real pulse of the outlook.
The best of the best, the standout, is Monday the 20th of July. The swell drops slightly to a more manageable 7ft, still from the East, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is strong (910). The real magic is the wind: a light offshore SSW breeze in the morning, going glassy calm in the afternoon. This is going to be clean, powerful, and well-shaped at Emerald Beach. It's a point break, so it will handle the longer period well. The optimum swell direction for this spot is NE, and we're getting a bit of East in there, so it's not perfect, but the quality of the forecast makes it the only real standout. Expect crowds, as it's a spot that often has them.
The water temperature is 68°, which is about a degree cooler than average for this time of year, so nothing unusual.
After that, the surf drops off quickly. The 21st has some clean 5ft waves, but the energy is moderate (382). The rest of the second week is a mix of small, ordinary waves and onshore winds, so not worth chasing.
So, if you're keen, your window is the 18th for the bigger stuff, but the absolute pick is Monday the 20th of July. It's the one that'll have you smiling.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 7 | S 7 | E 10 | E 10 | S 10 | S 8 | NE 9 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
30 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 50 | 622 | 948 | 1057 | 1129 | 1133 | 865 | 963 | 863 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:16PM1.84m | 7:44AM1.08m | 8:07PM1.89m | 8:36AM1.12m | 8:55PM1.89m | 9:26AM1.15m | 9:42PM1.82m | 10:15AM1.17m | 10:27PM1.71m | 11:04AM1.19m | 11:10PM1.55m | 11:55AM1.21m | 11:54PM1.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:30PM0.06m | 2:04AM0.01m | 1:24PM0.03m | 2:53AM-0.03m | 2:15PM0.02m | 3:40AM-0.04m | 3:06PM0.04m | 4:23AM-0.02m | 3:56PM0.11m | 5:05AM0.02m | 4:47PM0.20m | 5:45AM0.08m | 5:41PM0.32m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 7 | S 4 | S 7 | E 9 | E 9 | — | S 16 | NE 9 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | S 17 | S 21 | S 21 | S 10 | S 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 |
78 | 58 | 51 | 10 | 6 | 25 | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 125 | 6 | 36 | 34 | 17 | 32 | 104 | 91 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 11 | SSW 7 | S 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 16 | S 11 | SSW 21 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 |
30 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 2 | 83 | 30 | 60 | 6 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | ESE 10 | S 12 | SE 7 | S 11 | S 15 | N 10 | N 10 | — | — | — | SE 10 | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | E 17 | S 9 | S 18 | S 11 |
6 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 15 | 6 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 2 | S 4 | — | SW 2 | S 5 | S 7 | S 10 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
— | — | 1 | 11 | — | 1 | 102 | 557 | 1509 | 737 | 663 | 629 | 661 | 622 | 948 | 1057 | 1129 | 1133 | 865 | 963 | 863 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 39 | 154 | 147 | 166 | 166 | 40 | 98 | 21 | 98 | 98 | 212 | 375 | 377 | 85 | 98 | 332 | 40 | 40 | 98 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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










