Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, NE swell with 322 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s is also forecast. 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 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 11s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s happening at Emerald Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, don’t expect much for a while. The first few days are pretty flat and messy. Friday the 21st is a write-off – onshore junk, barely a ripple. Saturday the 22nd cleans up a bit with glassy conditions, but the swell is only 3ft from the NE and the energy is weak (80). It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about. Sunday the 23rd offers a little offshore wind, with the same 2ft to 3ft stuff from the ENE, period around 8 seconds, and the combined energy stays low (62). Still very ordinary.
We’ve got a run of poor surf lasting through to the middle of the following week. Monday the 24th morning is actually glassy with 3ft, but the energy is still weak (72) – a bit of a tease. Then it goes downhill again with onshores and chop. Tuesday the 25th is a mess with strong cross-onshore winds and messy 3ft to 4ft waves. The energy jumps to 221 Tuesday afternoon, but it’s all windslop.
Wednesday the 26th morning is the first real standout. The wind goes glassy, and the swell bumps up to 5ft from the NE, period 8 seconds, with moderate wave energy (215). The forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s your best bet for a clean, fun session in the first week. Get out there early because the afternoon turns to rubbish with a risk of thunderstorms and cross-onshore wind.
The rest of the week is a bit of a mixed bag. Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th have offshore winds, but the swell is around 3ft to 4ft, and the energy drops off. It’s clean, but small. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are nothing special – onshore winds and choppy conditions.
Now, toward the end of the month and into September, things start to look more promising. Monday the 31st of August morning is glassy again, with a fun 4ft from the ENE, period 6 seconds, and good energy (206). That’s another solid window. Then Tuesday the 1st of September brings strong offshore winds from the SSW, but the swell is only 4ft, and the energy is high (228). The waves will be clean, but the wind is fresh – more of a challenge.
The real highlight of the whole outlook lands on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning delivers a 4ft E swell with a 10-second period, moderate offshore wind from the S, and strong wave energy (245). That’s a proper groundswell with good shape, clean conditions, and enough push for a fun session. The optimum swell direction for Emerald Beach is NE, and this one comes from the east, so it’s a good angle. Crowds are possible here, so keep that in mind.
Thursday the 3rd of September morning is also a beauty – glassy, 4ft from the ENE, 10-second period, and strong energy (240). That’s another standout. The afternoon turns to onshore slop, but the morning session is worth chasing.
After that, the swell fades out again. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September are small with onshore winds, and the energy drops back to around 140. Nothing to write home about.
So, your two best windows: Wednesday the 26th of August morning for the glassy conditions and the first decent swell, and Wednesday the 2nd of September morning for the cleanest, most energetic groundswell of the period. The water temp is sitting around 20°, which is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick suit.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 6 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
34 | 60 | 80 | 51 | 49 | 54 | 59 | 51 | 43 | 62 | 117 | 135 | 137 | 221 | 306 | 210 | 183 | 162 | 161 | 153 | 113 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 2:58PM1.23m | 3:12AM0.80m | 4:07PM1.26m | 4:31AM0.82m | 5:04PM1.33m | 5:29AM0.88m | 5:51PM1.41m | 6:14AM0.95m | 6:31PM1.49m | 6:52AM1.03m | 7:06PM1.56m | 7:28AM1.11m | 7:40PM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:01PM0.53m | 8:51AM0.44m | 11:11PM0.47m | 10:03AM0.42m | 00:00AM0.39m | 11:03AM0.36m | 00:38AM0.31m | 11:51AM0.29m | 1:11AM0.22m | 12:33PM0.22m | 1:42AM0.15m | 1:12PM0.16m | 2:11AM0.09m | ||||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | NE 6 | SSE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 11 | S 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 10 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
34 | 14 | 13 | 51 | 5 | 54 | 59 | 51 | 43 | 248 | 135 | 135 | 137 | 51 | 306 | 210 | 183 | 162 | 161 | 153 | 113 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | E 9 | S 11 | SE 7 | E 10 | E 8 | E 8 | S 12 | S 10 | ENE 7 | SE 5 | S 11 | S 11 | S 16 | S 16 | S 9 | S 9 | S 14 | S 11 | S 11 | S 6 |
26 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 76 | 90 | 62 | 10 | 110 | 79 | 46 | 118 | 16 | 14 | 37 | 21 | 9 | 25 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | E 10 | E 13 | S 10 | S 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 3 | S 15 | SE 5 | S 16 | SE 5 | S 14 | SSW 16 | N 16 | SSW 17 | S 16 | N 13 | NE 13 | S 15 | SSW 8 |
9 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 113 | 10 | 46 | 4 | 15 | 85 | 5 | 55 | 45 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | N 5 | NE 6 | — | SSW 3 | — | NE 4 | — | ENE 8 | — | N 3 | NE 9 | — | WNW 4 | — | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | — |
10 | 60 | 80 | 21 | 49 | — | 5 | — | 10 | — | 117 | — | 2 | 221 | — | 5 | — | 15 | 37 | 28 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 114 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 2 | 2 | 345 | 5 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 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











