Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
19.8° C
0.4° 

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 18 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 3,796 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period with E 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 (Jul 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 19th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Best Surf 1AM (Sun 19th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sun 19th Jul)15ft (4.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

First up, the immediate outlook is a bit of a mess. We’ve got some serious size coming in, but it’s coupled with some pretty average wind conditions, so we’ll need to be patient. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The action starts this Saturday, the 18th, with a solid 8ft east swell, but it’s a bit of a cross-off wind situation and a fresh breeze, making it a bit of a battle. The combined energy is moderate at 972 and the period is a short 10 seconds, so it’s not the cleanest. To be honest, it’s a bit of a write-off for a proper session.

Sunday the 19th is where things get interesting, but not necessarily for the right reasons. We’re looking at a big 13ft swell from the ESE, with a combined energy of 3399 which is strong. The period is still 10 seconds. The problem is, this is predicted to be too big for this break. The wind is a cross-off from the SSE at 22 mph, which is a bit messy. It’s the same story going into Monday morning, with a 10ft ESE swell. The wind drops a little to 12 mph, but it’s still too big. Monday afternoon the swell drops to 8ft, but the score isn’t great.

The standout on offer is Tuesday the 21st. After a few days of oversized stuff, the swell settles down to a much more manageable 6ft from the east on Tuesday morning, and the combined energy is a moderate 682. The wind is light and offshore from the south at 6 mph, which is a major positive. That’s clean, lined-up surf. The period is 10 seconds, so there’s some decent shape. Afternoon sees the swell drop to 6ft, still with a light cross-off breeze. This is the best window of the week, no doubt about it.

Wednesday the 22nd through to the end of the month is a real lull. The swell drops right off, with heights between 1.0ft and 4ft. The wind is all over the place, and the overall energy is weak. It’s a stretch of small, poor conditions that’s not worth paddling out for. There’s a gap from the 22nd through to the 30th with basically nothing good.

Now, looking a bit further ahead, the last day of the month, Friday the 31st of July, shows a bit of promise. The shape is a 3ft swell from the ESE, but the period jumps to 13 seconds, which is a long period groundswell. The combined energy is a moderate 234, and the wind is a gentle offshore from the SSW. This could be a nice little clean wave, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it. After that, it stays small and messy into the start of August.

So, for the best bet, it’s all about Tuesday the 21st at Emerald Beach. Aim for the morning session with that 6ft east swell and the light offshore wind. The crowd profile says it’s "often" busy, so expect company. Get out there early.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Tue morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu night).

Sat
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
!
!
!
!
3
3
3
3
2
0
0
1
1
1
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)
2.3
E
10
3
E
11
4
ESE
10
3
E
10
3.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
2.5
E
10
2.2
E
10
1.9
E
10
1.7
E
9
1.4
E
9
1.3
ENE
9
1.3
ENE
9
1.1
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
8
0.6
ENE
8
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
8
0.4
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
972
2308
3399
2072
2673
1846
1275
932
682
508
332
289
249
180
125
92
54
39
37
22
Wind (km/h)
35
S
35
SSE
35
SSE
35
SSE
25
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
10
S
10
S
5
SE
5
W
10
NNW
15
NE
5
WSW
10
S
15
SE
30
SSW
25
SSW
20
S
15
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
11:10PM1.55m
11:55AM1.21m
11:54PM1.37m
12:48PM1.22m
00:39AM1.19m
1:44PM1.22m
1:29AM1.04m
2:44PM1.24m
2:30AM0.92m
3:44PM1.27m
3:40AM0.86m
4:41PM1.31m
Low Tide
4:47PM0.20m
5:45AM0.08m
5:41PM0.32m
6:24AM0.15m
6:40PM0.43m
7:04AM0.22m
7:50PM0.51m
7:47AM0.28m
9:09PM0.54m
8:37AM0.34m
10:29PM0.52m
9:33AM0.36m
11:34PM0.46m
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:39
6:39
6:39
6:37
6:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
 mm
1
10
5
3
2
Temp °C
18
17
18
17
17
18
18
17
17
17
16
20
19
16
17
18
15
15
16
14
Feels °C
11
11
13
11
12
14
15
14
16
16
15
17
16
15
15
16
10
9
11
10
  • Map Icons:
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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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