Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 12s period, SE swell with 1,269 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s 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 (Sep 18) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. 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 2.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.0m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Emerald Beach.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a long quiet stretch. For the first several days, don’t bother paddling out—Sunday the 13th through to Thursday the 17th is pretty much a write-off. Tiny, weak swell, and a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind. Not worth getting wet for.
Things finally start to look up on Friday the 18th. That morning, we get a proper pulse: a 7ft swell out of the SE, with a nice long 12-second period. That’s groundswell, carrying some real energy—you can feel it in the combined energy reading (1221). This is quality stuff, but it’s pushing over 8ft, so this one’s for the experienced crew only. The offshore wind is light to moderate out of the south, making for clean, lined-up waves. For a point break like Emerald Beach, that SE direction and long period should wrap in nicely and offer some good shape, though keep in mind long-period swell can wall up at beach breaks—here, it should be better. The morning session on Friday 18th is the standout of the whole outlook.
By Saturday morning the 19th, the swell drops to 6ft (energy 659) and the wind shifts cross-onshore, so it’s nowhere near as clean. Still surfable, but only marginal.
After that, it’s back to a pretty bleak picture. From Saturday afternoon through the end of the outlook, we see mostly onshore winds and small, short-period junk. There’s a tiny spike around Sunday the 27th with a 5ft NNE swell and a light offshore cross-off wind, but the period is only 7 seconds and the energy is moderate (194)—it’s surfable but really ordinary.
Best bet: Friday 18th September morning. Emerald Beach with that 7ft SE groundswell and clean offshore south wind. Not for beginners, but if you’ve got the skills, that’s the one to aim for.
Water temp is sitting at 68°F, which is about average for this time of year—nothing unusual there.
Signing off,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun morning, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 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) | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | E 10 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 17 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 34 | 59 | 42 | 98 | 150 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1213 | 1111 | 1070 | 659 | 369 | 166 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | on | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:23PM1.40m | 9:51AM1.47m | 9:59PM1.26m | 10:30AM1.44m | 10:35PM1.12m | 11:11AM1.38m | 11:15PM0.99m | 11:58AM1.31m | 00:04AM0.88m | 12:56PM1.24m | 1:14AM0.80m | 2:09PM1.21m | 2:46AM0.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:20PM0.12m | 3:32AM0.06m | 4:03PM0.19m | 4:02AM0.14m | 4:47PM0.28m | 4:33AM0.22m | 5:36PM0.38m | 5:08AM0.31m | 6:35PM0.46m | 5:50AM0.39m | 7:52PM0.52m | 6:49AM0.46m | 9:21PM0.51m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — |
 | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 285 | 250 | 198 | 312 | 180 | 88 | 56 | 32 | 115 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1213 | 1111 | 1070 | 659 | 369 | 166 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | SSW 18 | ENE 4 | E 10 | E 10 | E 12 | ENE 14 | ENE 14 | S 10 | NE 14 | — | — | S 19 | S 19 | NE 12 | E 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 190 | 104 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 8 | — | — | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 371 | 168 | 273 | 202 | 96 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 16 | E 9 | E 9 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 16 | NE 12 | S 18 | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 |
| kJ | 17 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | 24 | 147 | 364 | 155 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 3 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | S 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | 34 | 59 | 42 | 98 | 150 | 957 | 3283 | 3044 | 2293 | 2358 | 2162 | 653 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 176 | 2 | 39 | 389 | 2 | 39 | 394 | 13 | 422 | 1161 | 229 | 98 | 98 | 13 | 0 | 85 | 2 | 12 | 39 | 2 |
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
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