Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 07 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
20.2°C
0.1° 

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 7 Sep 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, SE swell with 102 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Emerald Beach this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Emerald Beach in the next 16 days are 0.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful10PM (Wed 9th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Hey crew, Rusty here reporting in. Let’s run through what’s happening in the water over the next couple of weeks. Been a quiet one lately, that’s for sure.

We are looking at a long, dry spell of tiny, weak surf right through until mid-September. Most days we’re seeing waves under 1–2 feet, mostly short-period slop with combined swell energy barely registering over 20–30. The wind is actually decent a lot of those days – clean offshore breezes from the SSW – but without any swell, it’s just a glassy pond. You can’t surf nothing.

Things start to change around Saturday, September 19th. That morning we get a proper kick: 5ft SE swell at 11 seconds, with a combined energy reading of 424 – that’s a solid moderate-to-strong pulse. The wind is cross-on from the NW, so the morning will be a little bumpy. But the afternoon of the 19th is where it all comes together. The wind swings SE, becoming a clean cross-off, and the swell is still a solid 4ft from the SE (342 energy) with a nice 10-second period. That’s the best window of the entire forecast period.

For that afternoon session, Emerald Beach is the go-to. It’s a point break that loves an SE swell coming out of a NE optimum direction. The cross-off wind will give us clean faces. This is good, solid surf for the average intermediate surfer. Just know that this break can get packed, so be ready to share. Water temp is right around 68°, which is normal for this time of year – no major anomaly.

Sunday the 20th we drop back to small, weak waves again, around 2ft. Then we get a brief, weird spike on Monday the 21st of September – morning sees a 4ft NNE swell, and then the afternoon jumps up to a powerful 8ft from the NNE, with a combined energy of 631. That’s serious size, but the period is only 7 seconds, so it’ll be messy, fat, and definitely not for beginners. That’s strictly for the experts. The wind will be clean, so it’s not a total loss, but the shape will be poor.

Honestly, with that big, short-period NNE swell on the 21st afternoon, the setup at a beach break is likely more suited to kite surfers than paddle surfers. The waves will be too fat and too intimidating for most.

So here’s the bottom line: the first 12 days are almost entirely flat and not worth a second look. The only true standout is the afternoon of Saturday, September 19th at Emerald Beach – 4ft of clean SE swell, cross-off wind, a point break that’ll line it up. That’s your window, don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Wed night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.4
NNE
6
0.3
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.5
SE
11
0.5
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.1
NE
15
0.2
ENE
9
0.1
E
16
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
0.6
ENE
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
14
15
7
18
18
16
16
17
60
50
26
9
7
7
19
19
19
18
17
17
22
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
15
E
5
SW
30
SSW
30
S
15
SW
10
NNE
15
ESE
40
SSW
30
SSW
30
SSW
30
SSW
20
SSW
30
S
25
SSE
25
SSE
20
SSE
15
S
10
S
15
E
5
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
5:03PM1.57m
5:41AM1.03m
5:58PM1.65m
6:31AM1.15m
6:45PM1.69m
7:16AM1.26m
7:28PM1.69m
7:57AM1.35m
8:08PM1.63m
8:36AM1.43m
8:46PM1.53m
9:14AM1.47m
9:23PM1.40m
Low Tide
10:16AM0.28m
11:57PM0.16m
11:22AM0.20m
00:42AM0.07m
12:17PM0.12m
1:21AM0.01m
1:06PM0.07m
1:57AM-0.02m
1:52PM0.05m
2:30AM-0.02m
2:36PM0.07m
3:01AM0.01m
3:20PM0.12m
3:32AM0.06m
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:50
5:50
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
5:37
5:37
 mm
3
2
2
1
1
3
2
1
1
Temp °C
19
19
18
18
18
16
18
18
16
17
15
15
18
17
17
18
18
17
18
19
18
Feels °C
16
17
18
12
12
12
14
15
11
10
9
10
13
12
13
13
14
14
16
17
17
  • 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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