Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
19.3° C
0.6° 

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 17 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with 527 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with SE 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. 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 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 18th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Tue 18th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 4AM (Wed 19th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but there’s a proper little window of quality surfing if you’re patient.

We’re looking at Emerald Beach for the whole run – a point break that’s fairly consistent. The water’s sitting at 67°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th have some swell, around 5ft to 5ft, but the wind is blowing cross or cross-off from the SSE and ESE, so it’s not doing the waves any favours. The energy is moderate, but the period is short at 7-8 seconds, so it’s lumpy and a bit of a mess. Not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday the 19th is where it all comes together. The morning sees a clean 5ft swell from the ESE with a solid 10-second period and a proper offshore wind from the SSW. The energy is strong, and the conditions are described as very good. That’s the standout. The afternoon goes glassy, with the swell dropping to 4ft from the SE, but it’s still clean. This is the best couple of sessions of the whole forecast. Get on it.

After that, it falls apart. From Thursday the 20th right through to the end of the month, the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, the swell drops below 3ft, and the energy plummets. There’s a long stretch of poor surf from the 20th right through to the 31st of August. There’s a glimmer on the morning of the 25th with a clean offshore wind, but the swell is only 2ft, so it’s just a tiny, clean wave. Not worth the drive.

The first of September doesn’t look any better – tiny, weak swell with cross-shore winds. The whole run flattens out completely.

So, the honest truth: Wednesday the 19th is your only real shot at something good. Hit the morning for the best offshore conditions with that 5ft ESE groundswell. It’s a point break, so the long period (10 seconds) should wrap in nicely. The crowds are often there, so expect company. The rest of the 16 days is a bin fire.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
0
2
1
2
3
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
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)
1.5
ESE
7
1.6
SE
7
1.7
ESE
7
1.4
ESE
8
1.5
ESE
8
1.4
ESE
9
1.5
ESE
10
1.1
SE
10
0.9
ESE
9
1.3
ESE
8
1.4
E
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.8
ENE
7
1.1
NE
7
1
NE
7
0.9
NE
7
1.1
NE
7
1
NE
7
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
NE
8
0.7
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
231
261
297
213
307
293
492
245
138
186
200
82
58
111
84
75
119
100
101
82
56
Wind (km/h)
15
SSE
15
ESE
15
ESE
10
SSE
10
ESE
10
W
15
SSW
5
SE
10
W
10
N
20
NNE
15
NNW
10
N
20
NNE
10
NNW
5
NW
10
ENE
10
SSE
5
NE
15
NNE
15
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-off
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
11:12AM1.33m
11:12PM1.24m
11:58AM1.31m
11:53PM1.08m
12:49PM1.27m
00:41AM0.94m
1:49PM1.23m
1:46AM0.84m
2:58PM1.23m
3:12AM0.80m
4:07PM1.26m
4:31AM0.82m
5:04PM1.33m
Low Tide
5:13PM0.30m
5:26AM0.18m
6:07PM0.41m
6:02AM0.26m
7:10PM0.50m
6:44AM0.35m
8:31PM0.55m
7:39AM0.41m
10:01PM0.53m
8:51AM0.44m
11:11PM0.47m
10:03AM0.42m
00:00AM0.39m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:25
 mm
3
2
5
2
1
2
2
2
2
Temp °C
17
16
16
17
17
15
16
17
16
18
18
15
20
18
16
21
19
18
19
19
18
Feels °C
14
13
12
15
15
15
15
17
16
15
15
13
17
15
14
20
18
17
20
18
17
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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