Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater and Harbord surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NE swell with 373 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period with NE 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater and Harbord in the next 16 days are 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 11s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board and let’s get into it. It’s a patchy run of surf ahead for the next couple of weeks, so you’ll want to pick your moments.
We start off with a flat and frustrating few days. Nothing doing on Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, with tiny, weak waves and poor conditions. Monday the 24th is more of the same – small and messy. You can basically write off the first few days.
Things start to stir on Tuesday the 25th. The afternoon sees a bit more size, around 4ft, but it’s pretty ordinary. The real spark comes early Wednesday morning on the 26th. Swell jumps to 6ft with that NE direction and a clean, cross-off wind. There’s a strong pulse of energy in the water – the reading hits 648 – and this is the standout of the whole period. Get out early, because the arvo turns to garbage with a strong southerly wind.
After that, it backs right off. Thursday the 27th is poor, and the rest of the week is mostly small and unremarkable. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are poor, with light rain and onshore winds. The only thing close to a surf is Tuesday the 1st of September – the morning is clean-ish but still pretty ordinary. That’s a long way from good.
The second week is not much better. Big winds and chop on Wednesday the 2nd, and Thursday the 3rd stays average. Friday the 4th has a brief window of clean, offshores in the morning, but the swell is weak. The weekend of the 5th and 6th is back to onshore slop.
So, if you want a wave, Wednesday the 26th morning is the one. It’s got the size, the direction, and the clean conditions to make it worthwhile. Everything else is a game of patience. Despite the flat outlook, the consistency at Freshwater and Harbord when it does show is a good sign – it tends not to stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the NNE by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon night, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 38 | 25 | 28 | 67 | 120 | 44 | 216 | 218 | 373 | 244 | 123 | 122 | 147 | 181 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | on | off |
High Tide | 3:46AM0.84m | 4:00PM1.27m | 4:56AM0.87m | 4:57PM1.32m | 5:49AM0.92m | 5:45PM1.39m | 6:30AM0.99m | 6:27PM1.45m | 7:07AM1.06m | 7:05PM1.51m | 7:42AM1.14m | 7:41PM1.53m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:06PM0.48m | 9:01AM0.55m | 11:10PM0.43m | 10:09AM0.53m | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.49m | 00:38AM0.30m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:12AM0.23m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:44AM0.17m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:15AM0.13m | ||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 8 | NE 6 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | S 9 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
18 | 9 | 22 | 10 | 325 | 153 | 247 | 162 | 128 | 120 | 44 | 41 | 218 | 275 | 186 | 123 | 122 | 147 | 181 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 6 | NE 6 | S 8 | ENE 6 | S 13 | NE 8 | NE 5 | S 17 | S 10 | S 9 | S 16 | S 9 | S 15 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
2 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 215 | 18 | 28 | 23 | 68 | 41 | 44 | 13 | 74 | 21 | 19 | 30 | 30 | 27 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 9 | E 9 | S 14 | S 17 | E 14 | E 14 | NE 8 | S 15 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | — | S 16 | — | S 15 | — | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 52 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 32 | — | 47 | — | 4 | — | 15 | 15 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | WNW 3 | — | SE 4 | — | NE 9 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | ENE 9 | — | NE 8 | NE 8 | NW 3 | WNW 2 | E 3 | — |
3 | 1 | — | 12 | — | 38 | 25 | 45 | 67 | 143 | — | 216 | — | 373 | 244 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 225 | 194 | 315 | 49 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 170 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sydney North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











