Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 28 Jul 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 28 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, E swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, E swell with 92 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with E 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s 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 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 12s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sun 2nd Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 2nd Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 2nd Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty, and I'm looking at the charts for Emerald Beach. I gotta be straight with you from the start: it's a pretty grim outlook for us. There are no standout days in the whole 16-day window where it all comes together. A long stretch of nothing much.

The good news, if you can call it that, is the water temperature is sitting around a normal 67°, so a wetsuit is all you'll need. But that's about where the positives end.

Let's walk through it. Starting from Tuesday the 28th of July through to the end of the month, it's tiny and weak. We're looking at swell heights of just 1.0 ft to 2.0 ft from the ENE or NE. The energy is super weak, with readings like 5 and 27 on the scale—just not enough to push you down the point. Mostly light winds, some offshores, but with no waves, it's a flat spell.

We go through the first week of August in similar fashion. By Sunday morning the 2nd of August, we see a slight bump to 3.6 ft from the E with a period of 6 seconds. The energy lifts to 97, which is still feeble, and the conditions are clean. It's surfable, but "very ordinary" as the notes say. That's the best we get for a while, and it's not saying much. The following days are all tiny again, with mixed winds. Monday the 3rd sees a cross-onshore mess with NNW wind at 15 km/h. It’s no good.

Then we get a glimpse of something different way out at the end. On Tuesday the 11th of August, the swell comes up to 4.3 ft from the NNE, and the energy jumps to 178. That's moderate energy. The period is only 7 seconds, so it's a weaker, short-period windswell. The problem is the wind. In the morning, it's a meagre 5 km/h from the WNW, giving us a cross-breeze and clean-ish conditions. But by the afternoon, the wind swings onshore from the NE at 15 km/h and it gets ruined. It's still the most significant size we'll see, but the quality isn't there. For a point break, a NNE swell isn't ideal, and the short period won't give much shape.

Honestly, for nearly two weeks, the best recommendation is to find something else to do. The break itself is fairly consistent, so when the weather patterns shift, it'll turn on. But for now, if you're at Emerald Beach, don't expect to paddle out. If the wind stays up, it'll be more of a kitesurfing set-up with that onshore breeze and some chop.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
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
1
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
NE
4
0.4
NE
4
0.6
ENE
5
0.5
ENE
5
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
NE
7
0.3
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.1
E
18
1.1
E
6
1
E
6
0.7
ENE
6
0.8
ENE
6
0.9
ENE
6
0.8
ENE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4
6
19
17
12
15
13
14
23
21
12
6
10
7
78
76
35
53
53
52
Wind (km/h)
20
NE
10
WNW
5
WSW
10
E
15
SW
20
S
20
SSE
15
SSW
15
S
20
SSE
20
SSW
20
SSW
10
SE
10
SW
5
SW
10
NNW
10
NW
15
NNW
15
NNE
10
WNW
Wind State
on
cross
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
High Tide
7:35PM1.57m
7:53AM1.02m
8:10PM1.61m
8:30AM1.06m
8:44PM1.62m
9:06AM1.11m
9:16PM1.61m
9:43AM1.15m
9:49PM1.56m
10:22AM1.19m
10:24PM1.49m
11:03AM1.23m
11:02PM1.38m
Low Tide
2:16AM0.20m
1:33PM0.18m
2:49AM0.15m
2:10PM0.16m
3:21AM0.12m
2:48PM0.17m
3:52AM0.10m
3:26PM0.19m
4:23AM0.09m
4:07PM0.24m
4:55AM0.09m
4:53PM0.30m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:31
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:15
 mm
2
1
1
Temp °C
18
15
18
18
15
14
15
14
15
16
14
17
17
14
16
16
15
20
19
15
Feels °C
15
13
15
15
12
9
10
10
11
12
10
13
15
12
16
15
13
16
16
13
  • 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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