
Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater and Harbord surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SSE swell with 675 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Freshwater and Harbord this week:
The surf forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater and Harbord in the next 16 days are 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a yarn about what’s coming our way at Freshwater and Harbord.
Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there’s a lot of flat, ordinary slop to wade through before anything worth paddling out for. We’ve got a big gap of nothing much for the first week and a half, so don’t be in a rush.
Starting off now, right through until about the 21st of September, it’s mostly flat to tiny, and when there is a ripple, the wind’s junk. Wednesday the 16th is a write-off with a fresh cross-onshore breeze smashing a tiny 0.7ft swell. Thursday’s no better – knee-high dribble. Friday morning the 18th, the wind goes glassy but the swell’s a pathetic 2ft from the SE with a short period of 7 seconds – it’s clean but won’t break. The weekend and the start of next week are mostly flat, with a few tiny bumps that aren’t worth your time. It’s a long, blank run.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. We start to see some life around the 22nd of September, but it’s not for everyone. On Tuesday the 22nd, the swell jumps to 6ft from the SSE, with a solid energy reading (322), but the period is short (7 secs) and the wind is a fresh cross-onshore – that’s a lumpy, choppy mess. This is a beach setup, so that combo will be blown out. For the kite crew, that afternoon could be more interesting than for us.
The real window opens up from the 25th of September onwards. Friday the 25th morning, we get a clean 4ft swell from the ENE with a moderate cross-offshore breeze – that’s surfable. The energy is moderate (137). That afternoon picks up to 5ft from the NE, but the wind goes cross-shore and lumps it up a bit.
The standout period is the 26th through to the 28th of September. Saturday the 26th morning is the pick of the bunch – a clean 5ft swell from the ENE, 8-second period (so a bit more push), and a gentle cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is 229, which is solid. This is the best clean conditions we’ll see for a while. The crowd profile says “often,” so expect a few others out there with you.
Sunday the 27th is also clean in the morning – 4ft from the ENE, 8 secs – but the wind picks up in the arvo. Monday the 28th morning offers another clean window with 5ft from the NE, but the afternoon gets a fresh cross-shore.
So, the best on offer: Saturday the 26th of September, early. You’ll score clean, 5ft sets from the ENE – head-high waves with decent energy (229) and light winds. It’s the one to circle. The water temp is right around average for this time of year, about 63°, nothing weird.
Looking into the start of October, Thursday the 1st has a promising 4ft swell from the ENE with a longer 9-second period and a light onshore wind, but the energy is strong (280). It could be clean early, but it’s a long way out – keep an eye on it.
Right, that’s the story. A long flat spell, then a solid few days of clean, head-high waves to close out September. Get in while it’s good.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the S by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 14 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 9 | SE 7 | E 12 | SE 8 | S 10 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | S 10 | ENE 3 | S 17 | SSW 3 | E 11 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | E 11 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 463 | 38 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 333 | 317 | 2 | 223 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 11:16AM1.37m | 11:45PM0.98m | 12:02PM1.31m | 00:41AM0.90m | 12:58PM1.25m | 1:55AM0.85m | 2:06PM1.22m | 3:20AM0.85m | 3:17PM1.23m | 4:28AM0.90m | 4:18PM1.27m | 5:18AM0.97m | 5:08PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:55PM0.37m | 5:22AM0.45m | 6:55PM0.43m | 6:06AM0.53m | 8:07PM0.47m | 7:07AM0.58m | 9:23PM0.47m | 8:26AM0.60m | 10:27PM0.43m | 9:42AM0.57m | 11:15PM0.36m | 10:42AM0.51m | 11:53PM0.29m | ||||||||
5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 27 | 27 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 4 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 14 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 19 | S 19 |
20 | 16 | 7 | 1390 | 758 | 463 | 390 | 405 | 171 | 116 | 109 | 66 | 190 | 74 | 72 | 131 | 100 | 146 | 185 | 62 | 255 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 14 | — | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 7 | S 17 | SE 8 | S 15 | S 15 | S 17 | S 5 | S 19 | S 17 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | E 11 | NE 11 | E 11 | S 10 |
20 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 95 | 33 | 40 | 42 | 23 | 10 | 182 | 142 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 52 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 19 | S 19 | S 19 | S 18 | E 12 | S 16 | S 18 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | S 17 | S 11 | S 7 | S 16 | E 11 | NE 5 | — | — | E 11 |
— | — | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 58 | 3 | 119 | 57 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 41 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | NE 2 | — | WSW 4 | — | SW 2 | W 2 | ENE 3 | — | SSW 3 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 |
2450 | 2493 | 3109 | 1849 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | — | 3 | 190 | 333 | 317 | 373 | 223 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 727 | 727 | 106 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 62 | 33 | 154 | 62 | 74 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sydney North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Freshwater and Harbord Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Freshwater and Harbord provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Freshwater and Harbord can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Freshwater and Harbord 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 (Freshwater and Harbord) 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 Freshwater and Harbord 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.
Freshwater and Harbord is 4 km (2 miles) from Dee Why. If you plan a holiday in Sydney North Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dee Why. Dee Why has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










