Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, ENE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, SE swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period. 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 0.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 1AM. 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, mate. Rusty here. Let’s cast an eye over the next couple of weeks for Emerald Beach, a point break set up for a north-easterly swell. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a lean patch ahead. The water’s sitting at a pretty average 68°F for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
We’ve got a long gap with barely a ripple. The outlook kicks off this Thursday, 27th of August, with a tiny 3ft swell from the ENE, but the period is a short 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 82, so there’s not much push. Thursday morning offers a moderate offshore breeze, making it clean, but the waves are just “surfable” at best. Thursday afternoon the wind shifts cross-off, and it’s poor. Honestly, this isn’t the day to get excited.
After that, we’re looking at a real dry spell. From Friday the 28th of August right through to the end of the first week of September, the swell drops to 2ft or less. There are a few glassy mornings, like Friday the 28th morning and Wednesday the 2nd of September morning, but with so little height and energy, you’re just bobbing around. The combined energy sits around the 40-50 mark – very weak. It’s poor surf conditions, day after day.
There’s a bit of a blip on Sunday the 6th of September afternoon. The swell jumps to 6ft from the NNE, but the period is a terrible 5 seconds, and the wind is howling onshore from the NNE at 16 mph. The combined energy bumps up to 258, which is moderate, but the quality is poor. This is messy, wind-slop – not for paddling. Given the beach and reef setup, this might be more interesting for the kite surfers than anyone else.
The following morning, Monday the 7th of September, sees a 4ft NNE swell with an 8-second period and a moderate energy of 148, but again, it’s blown out by a fresh 12 mph onshore northerly. By the afternoon, the wind picks up to 19 mph, and the swell drops away. It’s a no-go.
The rest of the second week stays small and weak. There’s a brief moment Wednesday the 9th of September morning with a light cross-off breeze and clean conditions, but the swell is only 2ft. It’s the same old story – surfable, but not really worth the drive.
So, what’s the standout? Honestly, there isn’t a true standout. If I had to pick one session that’s the least bad, it’s Thursday the 27th of August morning. The 3ft ENE swell, even with a short period, has a clean, offshore wind and is the biggest swell of the entire first week. It’s the only window with a hint of potential. The rest of the 16 days is a long, slow blank. The spot is fairly consistent, so it’s not normal to have such a quiet run, and forecasts can change, but for now, keep your board in the car and your eyes on the sky.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon night, fresh winds from the NNE by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | SE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
82 | 76 | 58 | 41 | 35 | 39 | 43 | 44 | 37 | 22 | 31 | 77 | 26 | 25 | 0 | 52 | 71 | 70 | 48 | 49 | 52 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross |
High Tide | 7:40PM1.60m | 8:03AM1.20m | 8:13PM1.60m | 8:38AM1.27m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:12PM0.16m | 2:11AM0.09m | 1:51PM0.13m | 2:41AM0.05m | 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 | ||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | SSE 10 | S 10 | ENE 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | SE 7 | S 17 | S 17 | S 8 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | NNE 5 |
82 | 76 | 465 | 295 | 865 | 443 | 290 | 44 | 37 | 22 | 31 | 77 | 140 | 290 | 147 | 231 | 306 | 221 | 114 | 82 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 15 | ENE 8 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NE 10 | N 10 | ENE 10 | NE 15 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | NNE 4 | E 10 | S 11 |
5 | 18 | 58 | 340 | 35 | 39 | 43 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 432 | 172 | 71 | 70 | 12 | 49 | 56 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | N 12 | S 15 | ENE 8 | NE 11 | S 13 | N 11 | NE 7 | — | N 15 | S 18 | S 16 | NE 13 | NE 13 | S 11 | E 10 | NE 12 | NE 12 | E 10 | NE 11 | E 10 |
3 | 3 | 39 | 41 | 5 | 31 | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | 6 | 47 | 7 | 7 | 55 | 52 | 6 | 5 | 48 | 5 | 48 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | S 4 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | N 5 |
271 | 337 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 596 | 752 | 441 | 378 | 185 | 326 | 320 | — | — | 12 | 32 | 19 | 15 | 52 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 85 | 0 | 2 | 85 | 5 | 40 | 85 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 309 | 2 | 0 | 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











