Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
20.0°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 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, N swell with 103 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period with NNE 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Emerald Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Thu 3rd Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 5s
Best Surf 7PM (Thu 3rd Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Most Powerful 7PM (Thu 3rd Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Rusty.

G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s how things are shaping up around Emerald Beach.

Alright, let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag, and for the most part, the surf around here is pretty quiet. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swells that just aren’t going to get the heart pumping. Water temp is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much dead average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

Starting out, from Saturday the 29th right through to Tuesday the 1st of September, it’s all tiny swell – around 1ft to 2ft from the east or east-northeast, with periods of just 8 to 10 seconds. The wave energy is weak (between 31 and 54), and while the winds are mostly light offshore or cross-offshore, making the surface clean, the waves just don’t have any push. It’s a total write-off for any kind of meaningful session.

Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd of September stay in the same small boat – similar size and direction, still clean enough in the mornings with light winds, but the swell is practically non-existent. Then on Thursday afternoon the 3rd, there’s a brief flicker: the wind goes glassy and the wave height bumps to 4ft, but the period is a pitiful 5 seconds and the swell direction is from the north-northeast. Combined energy hits 110, so it’s moderate, but the wave quality is described as very ordinary. It’s surfable but barely worth paddling out for.

Friday the 4th through Sunday the 6th of September sees us drop back into the doldrums – 1ft to 3ft, periods of 5 to 6 seconds, weak energy (17 to 124), and onshore or cross-on winds. The only real highlight in this whole period is a couple of mornings with clean conditions but no swell to work with.

Now, Monday the 7th of September starts to show some change. The morning is still small (3ft, 4-second period, clean), but Monday afternoon things get interesting – a jump to 8ft from the north-northeast, with a period of 7 seconds, and combined energy ramps up to 459. The wind is light and cross-shore, but conditions are described as marginal. That’s a lot of water moving, but the quality is still questionable. By Tuesday the 8th of September, we’ve got the best window of the whole outlook. Morning sees 6ft from the north-northeast (8-second period, clean with a light cross-offshore wind from the southwest) and the wave energy is strong at 664. Then Tuesday afternoon it cleans up even more with a moderate offshore wind (southwest at 16 mph) and 5ft swell – this is the standout. It’s not huge, but it’s good quality, clean, and has some grunt. This is the session to aim for.

After that, the rest of the outlook from Wednesday the 9th through Sunday the 13th of September fades back to small, weak, and mostly onshore wind conditions. Waves are 1ft to 3ft, periods of 7 to 9 seconds, and combined energy is mostly below 100. Some mornings are clean, but the swell just isn’t there.

Overall, the only real standout is Tuesday the 8th of September – that afternoon session at Emerald Beach with a moderate offshore wind and a solid 5ft north-northeast swell (period 7 seconds) is your best bet. Crowds are often around, so you might have to share, but for clean, fun waves, that’s the one. The rest of the time? Bring a longboard and a lot of patience, or go for a kite session if the wind suits.

Stay safe, stay stoked.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
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
1
1
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)
0.5
ENE
9
0.5
ENE
9
0.5
E
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.5
E
10
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
8
0.3
ENE
11
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.4
ENE
10
1.3
NNE
5
0.8
NNE
6
0.4
ENE
10
0.5
NNE
6
0.4
ENE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
42
45
37
22
47
28
26
24
22
53
50
50
50
48
47
30
80
41
31
18
29
Wind (km/h)
15
S
20
SSE
20
SSW
20
S
15
SSE
10
SW
15
S
15
SE
10
W
10
NNE
25
NE
10
NNW
10
NNW
15
NNE
10
NW
10
NW
5
NW
5
WSW
10
S
10
E
5
W
Wind State
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
8:46PM1.57m
9:14AM1.34m
9:20PM1.51m
9:52AM1.39m
9:57PM1.41m
10:33AM1.41m
10:38PM1.28m
11:20AM1.42m
11:26PM1.14m
12:16PM1.41m
00:26AM1.00m
1:24PM1.40m
1:46AM0.90m
Low Tide
2:30PM0.12m
3:11AM0.03m
3:10PM0.14m
3:41AM0.03m
3:54PM0.17m
4:14AM0.06m
4:42PM0.23m
4:50AM0.11m
5:38PM0.30m
5:33AM0.18m
6:47PM0.37m
6:26AM0.26m
8:15PM0.40m
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:05
6:03
6:03
6:01
6:01
6:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:31
5:32
 mm
Temp °C
18
18
16
17
17
16
18
18
16
20
19
17
24
22
20
29
28
23
20
20
17
Feels °C
15
15
12
14
14
15
16
16
16
16
15
14
20
20
17
26
27
22
19
19
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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