Surf Forecasts:
Forster Beach (Nambucca) surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, S swell with 476 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 6s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Forster Beach (Nambucca) this week:
The surf forecast for Forster Beach (Nambucca) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Forster Beach (Nambucca) in the next 16 days are 1.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Forster Beach (Nambucca) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a slow start at Forster Beach (Nambucca), with the first proper surf not showing up until Friday 21 August. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing to write home about on that front.
Friday morning, we’re looking at a small 3ft swell from the ENE with a short 6-second period and weak energy (77). The wind is dead calm though, making it glassy – so you’ll get some clean little waves if you’re on a foamie or longboard, but it’s pretty ordinary. That afternoon the wind picks up from the NE at 12 mph, chopping things up, so don’t hold your breath.
Saturday 22 August is a write-off – tiny 2ft swell and poor conditions both morning and afternoon. Sunday 23 August isn’t much better, though the morning has a light S cross-off breeze keeping it clean, but the swell is only 2ft with a 7-second period and weak energy (39). Monday 24 August morning brings a glassy 2ft S swell with a longer 11-second period and moderate energy (158) – surfable but very ordinary.
The first real standout comes on Wednesday 26 August morning. We’ve got a 4ft ENE swell with an 8-second period and moderate energy (223). The wind is glassy with a light N breeze, so expect good surf conditions. It’s still small, but clean and fun for a beginner-friendly beach break.
Then Thursday 27 August morning is looking promising – a 3ft S swell with a 9-second period and moderate energy (291), with a fresh SW offshore breeze at 9 mph. That’s gentle offshore and clean, making for some nice lined-up waves. This is the best window of the first week. The afternoon sees a bigger 5ft S swell with a longer 11-second period and strong energy (601), but the wind turns cross-onshore, so it gets a bit choppy.
Friday 28 August morning is another glassy session – 4ft S swell, 10-second period, moderate energy (340), with a light NE breeze. Good surf conditions again. The afternoon gets messy with a NE cross-onshore.
Saturday 29 August morning has a fresh SW offshore at 19 mph, blowing clean over a 3ft ENE swell with a 9-second period and moderate energy (302). It’s a bit windy, but the offshore wind will groom it nicely. The afternoon is cleaner but the wind is still strong.
Sunday 30 August is a day to skip – moderate rain, strong SSE winds, and a 8ft NE swell with a short 7-second period and strong energy (578) – but the wind is cross-shore, making it lumpy and pretty average. This is really more for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
Monday 31 August morning is marginal with a 5ft ENE swell, 8-second period, moderate energy (247), and a cross-off SW breeze keeping it clean. Then Tuesday 1 September morning kicks off with a glassy 4ft E swell, 9-second period, moderate energy (254), and expect good surf conditions. The afternoon is also glassy with a 4ft ENE swell, 9-second period, moderate energy (302), and light rain – another good option.
Wednesday 2 September morning is clean with a light SSW cross-off breeze over a 4ft E swell, 8-second period, moderate energy (201) – good surf conditions. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-shore SE wind.
Thursday 3 September morning is the pick of the second week – a 3ft E swell with a long 11-second period and strong energy (363), glassy with a light SSE breeze. That’s clean, lined-up, and perfect for a longboard. The afternoon turns onshore, so get in early.
Friday 4 September and Saturday 5 September fade out with small 3ft E swells, short periods, and cross-onshore winds – not much to get excited about.
Overall, the best surf is on Wednesday 26 August morning, Thursday 27 August morning, Friday 28 August morning, and especially Thursday 3 September morning. Crowds are possible at Forster Beach, so keep that in mind if you’re chasing a peak.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NE by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 12 | SE 6 | S 11 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
37 | 49 | 47 | 84 | 37 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 67 | 58 | 85 | 102 | 113 | 186 | 137 | 268 | 203 | 174 | 321 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 1:48AM0.84m | 2:58PM1.23m | 3:13AM0.80m | 4:07PM1.26m | 4:32AM0.82m | 5:04PM1.33m | 5:30AM0.88m | 5:51PM1.41m | 6:14AM0.95m | 6:30PM1.49m | 6:53AM1.03m | 7:06PM1.55m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:40AM0.41m | 10:01PM0.53m | 8:51AM0.44m | 11:11PM0.47m | 10:03AM0.42m | 11:59PM0.39m | 11:03AM0.36m | 00:37AM0.31m | 11:51AM0.29m | 1:11AM0.22m | 12:33PM0.23m | 1:42AM0.15m | |||||||
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SE 6 | ENE 7 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | S 10 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 |
37 | 49 | 13 | 56 | 37 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 42 | 49 | 47 | 102 | 113 | 186 | 30 | 268 | 203 | 174 | 176 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | SE 7 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | ENE 9 | S 8 | S 12 | ENE 7 | SE 6 | ENE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 8 |
22 | 26 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 67 | 46 | 26 | 55 | 71 | 49 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 113 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | E 10 | S 12 | E 9 | S 10 | E 10 | S 9 | S 7 | S 4 | S 9 | S 11 | SE 6 | SE 5 | S 18 | — | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 |
21 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 58 | 85 | 15 | 4 | 6 | — | 19 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | — | NE 5 | NNE 6 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSE 4 | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | NE 5 | N 6 | — | SE 3 | S 7 |
4 | — | 47 | 84 | — | — | — | 4 | 12 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 137 | 102 | — | 3 | 321 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 0 | 83 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 7 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 2 | 8 | 366 | 54 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Forster Beach (Nambucca) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Forster Beach (Nambucca) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Forster Beach (Nambucca) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Forster Beach (Nambucca) 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 (Forster Beach (Nambucca)) 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 Forster Beach (Nambucca) 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.
Forster Beach (Nambucca) is 31 km (19 miles) from the city of Coffs Harbour. If you plan a holiday in Port Macquarie, look for hotels and other accommodation in Coffs Harbour. Coffs Harbour has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











