
Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, SE swell with 593 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Emerald Beach in the next 16 days are 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 10AM. 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 01) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
First off, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a bit of a struggle. We're looking at a long, dry patch where the surf just isn't doing us any favours. From now until around the 10th of August, the swell is tiny and the conditions are average at best. It’s a proper gap of about 10 days with nothing worthwhile to paddle out for.
The only real standout in this whole 16-day window is shaping up for Tuesday the 11th of August. That’s when we finally get a pulse of energy.
The best bet on offer is Emerald Beach. It’s a point break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the swell. The water temp is sitting around 68°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no wetsuit dramas.
On the morning of the 11th, we’ll see a clean 3ft swell coming from the southeast, with a 10-second period. The really good news is the wind is glassy – dead calm – so it’s gonna be clean as a whistle. The combined wave energy is moderate (201), which means there’s enough push to get a few fun ones. The afternoon cleans up too, with a light cross-off breeze and a similar 3ft SE swell (262 energy). It’s not big, but for a break that’s been starved of waves, this is the highlight.
The 13th of August also has potential. The morning looks clean with a 2ft Easterly swell and a light offshore wind, but the energy is lower, and the swell direction isn’t as ideal for the break's optimum. It’s still a good option, but the 11th is the day to circle on the calendar.
For the rest of the period, it’s mostly small, messy, or onshore. The 3rd of August has a bigger 5ft SE swell, but the wind is cross-onshore, making it a bit of a mess. The energy is high (615), but for a point break, it’s not the cleanest. The 4th looks glassy in the morning, but the swell is a tiny 2ft. It’s a tease.
So, to sum it up: we’ve got a long wait, but the 11th of August at Emerald Beach is your best chance for a real surf. Get ready for that one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 6 | E 18 | SSE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 16 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 593 | 385 | 211 | 33 | 20 | 35 | 92 | 57 | 33 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 37 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross |
High Tide | 9:49PM1.56m | 10:22AM1.19m | 10:24PM1.49m | 11:03AM1.23m | 11:02PM1.38m | 11:50AM1.26m | 11:46PM1.26m | 12:44PM1.29m | 00:40AM1.13m | 1:47PM1.33m | 1:49AM1.01m | 2:58PM1.40m | 3:12AM0.94m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:26PM0.19m | 4:23AM0.09m | 4:07PM0.24m | 4:55AM0.09m | 4:53PM0.30m | 5:30AM0.12m | 5:46PM0.36m | 6:11AM0.15m | 6:52PM0.42m | 6:59AM0.20m | 8:13PM0.44m | 7:58AM0.24m | 9:44PM0.40m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | E 12 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 10 | S 7 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
7 | 3 | 433 | 604 | 763 | 952 | 593 | 385 | 211 | 33 | 20 | 35 | 92 | 46 | 143 | 268 | 225 | 384 | 492 | 349 | 230 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 13 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 21 | S 21 | S 21 | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | NNE 4 | S 6 | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | E 7 | ENE 8 |
3 | 3 | 87 | 400 | 362 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 6 | 40 | 18 | 6 | 29 | 57 | 33 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 37 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 18 | SSE 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 16 | ENE 15 | E 15 | ENE 14 | NNE 4 | ESE 10 | SSW 6 | NNE 4 | NE 8 | ENE 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 15 | E 15 |
3 | 6 | 54 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 4 | 21 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 4 | NE 5 | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 7 | NNE 6 |
687 | 748 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 85 | 12 | 13 | 85 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 176 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 85 | 2 | 8 |
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











