
Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, E swell with 52 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 0.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 15s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag for Emerald Beach. We've got a long, quiet spell to get through before the ocean wakes up, but when it does, it's going to be a proper show for the experienced crew.
First up, the bad news. From now right through to the end of July, it's flat. I'm talking tiny, weak dribbles that aren't worth paddling out for. The swell energy is mostly sitting in the low double digits, with the biggest day being maybe 2ft to 2ft from the ENE, but the period is short and the winds are all over the shop. It's a write-off. Then we roll into the first few days of August, and it's more of the same – small, weak, and not doing anything. That's a solid ten days of nothing.
Now, hold on to your board, because around the 4th of August, things change fast. The swell shows up on Tuesday the 4th, but it's a monster. We're looking at 10ft of SE swell, and the combined energy is massive, hitting 1475. The wind is cross-offshore and clean, but that size is way too much for this break. The files say it's predicted to be too big, and I agree – this is for experts only, and even then, it's a beast. This continues into Wednesday the 5th with similar conditions.
The real standout, the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Thursday the 6th of August. The swell drops slightly to 8ft, still from the SE, but the period jumps to a very long 11 seconds. The wind is offshore and clean. The combined energy is a staggering 2524, and the conditions are described as "excellent for experienced surfers." This is big, powerful groundswell with a long period, so it's going to be a bit walled up and straight at a beach break, but for a point break like Emerald Beach, this could be absolutely firing. The water temp is about 67°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.
Friday the 7th of August is also a cracker. Still 8ft from the SE in the morning, dropping to 8ft in the afternoon, with a very long period of 14 seconds in the morning and 13 seconds later. The energy is still huge, and the wind is offshore all day. This is another day for the experienced surfer only – it's big, powerful, and will be a real test of your nerve and skill.
The weekend of the 8th of August looks promising too. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft on Saturday morning, with a 12-second period, and the energy is still solid at 788. By Saturday afternoon, it's 5ft with an 11-second period, and the wind is cross-offshore. This is very good surf, and while it's still on the bigger side, it's a step down from the peak, making it accessible for a strong intermediate.
So, to sum it up: you've got a long, flat wait until the 4th of August. The 4th and 5th are too big. The real standout is Thursday 6th and Friday 7th of August – those are the days for the experts. The best option for the biggest crowd of capable surfers is Saturday 8th of August, when the swell is still solid but the size is more manageable. Crowds are likely here, so be prepared. The swell direction from the SE is a good match for the break's optimum from the NE, so it should groom nicely.
Keep your eyes on the forecast, because this is a brief, powerful window. Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | ENE 7 | SE 8 | E 4 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
68 | 51 | 36 | 25 | 33 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 34 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 4:41PM1.31m | 4:50AM0.85m | 5:32PM1.37m | 5:47AM0.88m | 6:17PM1.44m | 6:35AM0.92m | 6:58PM1.51m | 7:16AM0.97m | 7:35PM1.57m | 7:53AM1.02m | 8:10PM1.61m | 8:30AM1.06m | 8:44PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:34PM0.46m | 10:31AM0.36m | 00:24AM0.39m | 11:24AM0.32m | 1:05AM0.32m | 12:11PM0.27m | 1:42AM0.26m | 12:53PM0.22m | 2:16AM0.20m | 1:33PM0.18m | 2:49AM0.15m | 2:10PM0.16m | 3:21AM0.12m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 10 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | ENE 7 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 15 | NE 8 | NE 6 | NE 7 | S 13 | ESE 6 |
68 | 51 | 816 | 2095 | 1071 | 524 | 517 | 711 | 599 | 5 | 305 | 202 | 144 | 84 | 38 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 34 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 8 | E 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | SE 7 | E 12 | E 12 | S 16 | S 17 | NE 7 | S 14 |
3 | 19 | 36 | 23 | 33 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 34 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 17 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 4 | E 7 | S 16 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 7 |
4 | 6 | 20 | 25 | 12 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — | E 4 | SSW 3 | SE 8 | W 2 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 10 | S 7 | S 10 |
401 | 396 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 443 | — | 6 | 4 | 31 | 1 | 85 | 92 | 218 | 680 | 269 | 400 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 85 | 0 | 2 | 166 | 2 | 2 | 85 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 53 | 49 | 85 | 5 | 13 | 40 | 12 |
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










