Emerald Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.18° S 153.19° E

Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 07 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Emerald Beach sea temperature is
20.2°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 6 Sep 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, SE swell with 106 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Emerald Beach this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Emerald Beach in the next 16 days are 0.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 7AM (Thu 10th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s happening at Emerald Beach.

Truth is, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and disappointing overall. We’ve got a long stretch of really small, weak, and messy conditions. The swell energy is low, barely scratching the surface, and the wind is all over the place – not the kind of setup that gets a surfer out of bed. For the first week and a half, it’s a write-off with hardly any surf worth mentioning. The combined energy stays mostly in the teens and twenties, which is just weak soup.

From the start on Monday 7th September, it’s all poor surf with tiny waves. A tiny 1ft NNE swell shows up early Monday morning but it’s got a cross-off wind and only 6 seconds of period – no push, no shape. The water temperature is sitting at 68°F, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.

The pattern doesn’t change much. Tuesday the 8th has a 0.7ft swell and a fresh offshore wind, but it’s just too small. Wednesday and Thursday are similar. By Friday the 11th and into the weekend, we get some long-period groundswell (14 seconds) but it’s only 0.7ft. That’s a tease. That kind of period would normally mean good shape, but there’s just no height to work with.

The only real glimmer comes on Monday 21st September. The afternoon shows a 4ft NE swell with a 5-second period. The combined energy bumps up to 62 (moderate), and the wind is light and cross-off, making it clean. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the best we’ve got – a short-period, dumpy little wave, but at least it’s clean. For a beginner, at 4ft it’s fine, but the short period means it’ll be a bit crumbly.

There’s nothing else to get excited about. The rest of the 16-day window is tiny, onshore, or full of cross-shore chop. The last few days into the 22nd are just poor, with onshore winds and risk of thunderstorms.

So, if you’re desperate, Monday 21st September afternoon is the only time to even think about paddling out. The rest of the period? Save your energy, check the forecast again later. This area knows how to go flat, and right now it’s doing just that.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Wed night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu morning, light winds from the S by Sat night).

Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
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
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
NNE
6
0.3
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
10
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.5
SE
11
0.5
SE
10
0.3
SE
10
0.2
ENE
15
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
14
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
ENE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
14
15
7
7
17
16
16
17
59
50
16
22
18
18
19
19
19
18
17
17
16
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
15
E
5
SW
30
SSW
30
S
15
SW
10
NNE
15
ESE
40
SSW
35
S
30
S
25
SSW
25
S
25
S
25
SSW
25
SSW
20
SSE
10
SSE
5
SE
15
ENE
10
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
on
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross
High Tide
5:03PM1.57m
5:41AM1.03m
5:58PM1.65m
6:31AM1.15m
6:45PM1.69m
7:16AM1.26m
7:28PM1.69m
7:57AM1.35m
8:08PM1.63m
8:36AM1.43m
8:46PM1.53m
9:14AM1.47m
9:23PM1.40m
Low Tide
10:16AM0.28m
11:57PM0.16m
11:22AM0.20m
00:42AM0.07m
12:17PM0.12m
1:21AM0.01m
1:06PM0.07m
1:57AM-0.02m
1:52PM0.05m
2:30AM-0.02m
2:36PM0.07m
3:01AM0.01m
3:20PM0.12m
3:32AM0.06m
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:50
5:50
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
5:37
5:37
 mm
3
1
4
2
1
2
2
1
Temp °C
19
19
18
18
18
16
18
18
15
17
16
16
16
18
16
18
18
17
19
18
17
Feels °C
16
17
18
12
12
12
14
15
10
11
10
10
11
14
13
14
14
15
16
15
16
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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