Surf Forecasts:
Emerald Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 581 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with ESE 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period. 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 1.6m 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 1.1m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emerald Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Emerald Beach.
Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start. This Sunday afternoon, we've only got a tiny 1ft swell with a light cross-off breeze, but the energy is pathetic at 27, and it’s really just a non-event. The real story begins on Monday morning the 17th. We’ll see a pulse of 4ft swell from the ESE, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is a cross-off. The energy ramps up to 172, but the conditions are just ordinary. Monday afternoon gets a bit more size at 5ft from the SE, but the cross-shore wind will mess with it.
Tuesday morning the 18th is where things start to look a little more hopeful. We’ve got a clean 4ft swell from the ESE with a light cross-off breeze and wave energy jumping to 323. It’s not massive, but it’s surfable. The best of the week looks to be Wednesday morning the 19th. We score a nice 5ft swell from the ESE with a longer 10-second period, clean offshore wind from the south, and wave energy hitting 483. That’s a solid, fun-sized point break day. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year, so no wetsuit dramas.
Thursday morning the 20th is worth a mention too. We’ve got 5ft ESE swell with a short 7-second period, but it’s glassy with zero wind. That’s pure, clean, and smooth. The energy is still decent at 250. But don’t get too excited for the afternoon – a 16 mph onshore wind will ruin it.
After that, the surf backs right off. From Friday the 21st all the way through to late in the month, it’s mostly small, messy, and weak. The wave energy drops below 100 for days at a time. There’s a brief glimmer on Wednesday morning the 26th with a clean 4ft SE swell and energy at 156, but it’s nothing to write home about. Thursday morning the 27th has a moderate offshore breeze of 16 mph but only 3ft on offer. By the end of the month, we’re down to 0.7ft and 1ft waves with almost no energy – just a flat spell.
The standout by a long shot is Wednesday morning the 19th at Emerald Beach. That’s the pick of the bunch: 5ft from the ESE, a 10-second interval, clean offshore wind, and solid energy. It’s a point break that can handle the direction. On the plus side, there will be crowds likely here, but that’s the price you pay for the best wave of the fortnight.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun night, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. 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 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
173 | 203 | 250 | 329 | 199 | 307 | 293 | 348 | 245 | 178 | 220 | 96 | 96 | 88 | 144 | 134 | 99 | 112 | 107 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:34PM1.42m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:53AM0.10m | 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 | |||||||
— | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | S 11 | S 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | NE 7 | SSE 7 | NE 7 |
123 | 53 | 82 | 61 | 199 | 307 | 293 | 348 | 245 | 178 | 220 | 96 | 96 | 88 | 13 | 14 | 91 | 5 | 107 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 9 |
50 | 43 | 16 | 17 | 122 | 70 | 135 | 48 | 47 | 34 | 10 | 9 | 43 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | S 12 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 10 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | — | S 15 | E 9 | S 13 | S 12 | — | S 10 | E 10 | E 8 |
106 | 70 | 37 | 33 | 44 | 24 | 57 | 35 | 29 | 25 | — | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | 8 | 2 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 7 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | N 4 |
173 | 203 | 250 | 329 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | 1 | 1 | 144 | 134 | 99 | 112 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 85 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 85 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 2 | 5 | 114 | 0 | 0 | 98 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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











