Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 11 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
19.5° C
0.5° 

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 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SE swell with 1,284 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with ENE 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 12) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Wed 12th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf10AM (Mon 17th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful10AM (Mon 17th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things look like they’re going to turn around nicely. For the first week or so, it’s mostly small, ordinary waves with a few clean windows, but nothing to write home about. Then, around Monday the 17th of August, we’ve got a big pulse of energy showing up.

The standout period looks to be the morning of Monday the 17th of August at Emerald Beach. Swell is coming in from the southeast at a solid 10ft, and that’s packing some serious power – combined swell energy is a chunky 1284 (moderate-strong). Now, this is an exposed point break, so it’s going to pick that up nicely, but for most of us, that’s going to be a big wave zone. Over 8ft, and that’s expert territory only. The wind is a cross-off breeze from the southeast at 16 mph, so it will be clean and organized, but this is not a beginner’s day. Keep that in mind. The water temp is sitting at a fairly average 67°F for the time of year here.

Before that big pulse, from now until Saturday the 16th of August, we’ve got a real quiet stretch. The waves are tiny, mostly around 1ft to 2ft, and the energy is weak (combined energy in the 30-110 range). There are some glassy moments – the Wednesday morning of the 12th of August is flat calm, and Thursday morning the 13th is glassy too – but the swell is just too small to get excited about. You’ll find a knee-high peak if you’re desperate, but it’s a real wait-and-see game.

Once the big one passes on Monday, it stays solid but drops off. Tuesday the 18th of August is still 7ft to 8ft from the southeast and east-southeast with moderate cross-shore wind and a bit of chop, so it’s messy for paddle surfing – might actually be a better setup for the kite crew if that’s your thing.

The real gem after the big swell settles might be the Wednesday morning of the 19th of August. Swell is still 7ft from the east-southeast, but you’ve got light offshore winds from the south at 6 mph, and the forecast is calling for very good conditions. That’s a clean, lined-up point break day for the more experienced surfers, and the combined energy is still strong at 547.

After that, through to the end of the forecast period, we settle into a long run of clean, offshore mornings. From the 20th of August through the 23rd of August, the swell drops to 5ft to 5ft from the east. Winds are off or glassy, and the surf is clean and user-friendly. The 22nd of August is particularly nice – glassy calm with 5ft east swell and period around 10 seconds. That’s a great day for intermediate surfers. It stays clean and fun right up to the morning of the 25th of August, though it does get a bit smaller.

So, to wrap it up: the big, expert-only swell hits on Monday the 17th of August. The best all-rounder for clean, fun surf would be Wednesday the 19th of August morning for the more advanced, or the Saturday the 22nd of August morning for a solid, clean session on a point break.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
ENE
9
0.6
ENE
9
0.6
ENE
10
0.7
ENE
9
0.7
ENE
9
0.6
ENE
9
0.6
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
3
SE
9
2.5
SE
8
2.5
SE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
59
64
72
90
92
69
61
43
44
43
43
29
30
29
30
33
33
32
1284
948
857
Wind (km/h)
10
W
5
SSE
10
W
0
W
15
ENE
10
WSW
5
S
20
SSE
15
SW
20
SSW
20
SSE
20
SSW
30
SSW
30
S
25
SSW
30
SSW
30
S
25
SSE
25
SE
25
SE
25
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
7:04PM1.80m
7:32AM1.14m
7:51PM1.83m
8:19AM1.21m
8:34PM1.80m
9:03AM1.28m
9:16PM1.71m
9:46AM1.32m
9:55PM1.58m
10:29AM1.34m
10:34PM1.42m
11:12AM1.33m
11:12PM1.24m
Low Tide
12:23PM0.09m
1:48AM0.01m
1:15PM0.03m
2:30AM-0.04m
2:04PM0.02m
3:09AM-0.05m
2:51PM0.04m
3:45AM-0.03m
3:38PM0.10m
4:20AM0.02m
4:25PM0.20m
4:53AM0.10m
5:13PM0.30m
clear
clear
clear
clear
light rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
rain showers
rain showers
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:19
5:20
5:20
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
 mm
1
3
4
1
6
3
6
4
2
8
Temp °C
20
21
15
19
18
15
17
17
15
18
17
16
17
16
15
15
17
16
16
17
17
Feels °C
17
19
12
15
15
14
13
13
12
14
13
13
11
10
9
10
11
11
11
12
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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