Surf Forecasts:
Forster Beach (Nambucca) surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 464 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Forster Beach (Nambucca) in the next 16 days are 1.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Forster Beach (Nambucca) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Forster Beach (Nambucca) is about to see a classic run of surf, but you’ll need to pick your windows. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real chance for a surf comes Wednesday morning, the 19th. It’s cloudy with a light 3 mph cross-offshore breeze from the SW, and the swell is 5 ft from the ESE with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a clean, solid groundswell with moderate energy (477). It’s a good start for a beginner-friendly break, but don’t expect perfection – the afternoon turns onshore and messy.
Thursday morning, the 20th, is a beauty. It’s glassy with a NE breeze at 3 mph, and the swell is 5 ft from the ESE. The period has dropped to 7 seconds, so it’s a shorter-period windswell now, but the glassy conditions will make it look nice. The combined energy is moderate (218). The best wave of the early windows is this one – clean, small, and user-friendly. The afternoon gets choppy again.
Friday morning the 21st is glassy again with a 3 ft NE swell and a period of 6 seconds, but it’s weak (90) and ordinary. Saturday morning the 22nd is glassy too, but the swell is barely 3 ft from the ENE (57). It’s surfable but nothing to get excited about. Sunday the 23rd is small and clean, but the swell is only 2 ft. The whole stretch from Friday through to Monday arvo is pretty flat and weak.
Now, the standout. Thursday morning, the 27th of August, is the first big pulse. A 7 ft S swell with a 11-second period, and a cross-offshore wind from the SW at 12 mph. The combined energy is strong (1039). That’s a powerful, clean groundswell but it’s over 5 ft, so it’s getting a bit much for absolute beginners. The conditions are clean, but the tide might be a factor. The morning of the 28th is glassy with a 5 ft S swell (10 seconds) and moderate energy (400) – that’s a much nicer, cleaner option for the experienced crew.
The real highlight, though, is Tuesday morning the 1st of September. A 7 ft SSE swell with a 12-second period, offshore wind from the S at 9 mph, and the combined energy is a massive 2740. This is a very strong, long-period groundswell, and the conditions are clean. It’s only for experienced surfers at that size, and the long period means it’s going to be a bit straight at the beach break, but if you’ve got a reef or a point nearby, this is the session to aim for. The morning of the 2nd of September is also good – 5 ft from the SSE, glassy, with moderate energy (409), but it’s a step down from the Tuesday.
After that, the 3rd of September drops off to a 3 ft ESE swell with a clean cross-offshore breeze, but the energy is only 220. It’s a nice morning but nothing special.
The best on offer is absolutely Tuesday morning, the 1st of September – that big, clean, powerful swell is the one to circle. The next best is Thursday morning the 27th of August. If you’re a beginner, stick to the glassy mornings on the 20th or the 28th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 7 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 4 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
443 | 286 | 213 | 208 | 110 | 39 | 58 | 53 | 56 | 47 | 38 | 42 | 29 | 58 | 48 | 60 | 39 | 70 | 196 | 299 | 113 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:50PM1.27m | 00:43AM0.94m | 1:50PM1.24m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:12PM0.50m | 6:45AM0.35m | 8:32PM0.54m | 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 | ||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | NE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | S 10 | ENE 8 | S 10 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
443 | 286 | 213 | 208 | 71 | 39 | 26 | 14 | 56 | 47 | 38 | 42 | 29 | 58 | 48 | 55 | 31 | 70 | 18 | 206 | 113 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | ENE 6 | S 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 7 | S 12 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 4 | S 4 | ENE 9 | S 3 | S 9 | S 11 | SSE 5 | S 9 | S 15 | S 10 | S 10 |
30 | 32 | 18 | 10 | 9 | 33 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 26 | 60 | 2 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 10 | E 12 | — | SE 10 | E 6 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 15 | SE 5 | S 17 | S 17 | S 14 | — | S 14 |
4 | 29 | 11 | — | 4 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 16 | — | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ENE 7 | NNW 3 | NE 6 | NE 5 | N 5 | SSW 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | — | NNE 3 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NW 3 |
— | — | — | — | 110 | 4 | 58 | 53 | 40 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 39 | 32 | 196 | 299 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 8 | 0 | 391 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 8 | 222 | 8 | 8 | 83 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











