Freshwater and Harbord Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° S 151.30° E

Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Freshwater and Harbord sea temperature is
16.4° C
1.6° 

Freshwater and Harbord surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Freshwater and Harbord surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, E swell with 194 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with ESE 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 18) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater and Harbord in the next 16 days are 1.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 18th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 7s
Best Surf 1AM (Tue 18th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 7s
Most Powerful10PM (Wed 19th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty here.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper surf. We’ve got a long stretch of small, junky waves and onshore winds that will have you checking the forecast more than your board. There’s a real gap in any decent action from now through August 25th. You’ll see a few knee-high blips, but nothing worth paddling out for. Most of this period is just for the die-hards or those happy to get wet without catching much.

The one tiny window where it’s not a complete write-off is the morning of Tuesday, August 18th. It’s still only 3ft of short-period east-southeast windswell, but the wind is dead glassy and the water’s a bit colder than normal for this time of year – about 3° colder than average, so grab the booties. The combined energy is weak at 92, so it’ll be gutless, but at least it’s clean. Freshwater (Northern Beaches) will be the pick, but it’s still very ordinary.

After that, it’s back to the same story. Wednesday, August 19th morning is similar – 3ft and glassy – but again, it’s weak and sickly. The wind swings offshore on Friday, August 21st morning, but the swell has dropped to 3ft and the energy is even weaker at 80. It’s clean but barely breaking.

The real news is late in the window. Around August 26th and 27th, a proper pulse of south-southeast swell shows up. On the afternoon of the 26th, we’re looking at 6ft with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 516. Unfortunately, the wind is on it, coming from the south and making it choppy and messy. By the morning of the 27th, the swell is still 4ft with a longer 11-second period and energy at 303, but again, it’s cross-onshore and lumpy. This is the most powerful swell of the whole stretch, but the conditions will make it a tough, drifty session at best. For the experts only, and it’s not going to be pretty.

So, there you have it. A couple of clean but weak mornings early on, and a bigger but messy pulse at the end of the month. Don’t get your hopes up for anything epic. If you’re desperate, the glassy windows on the 18th and 19th are your best bet for a few gutless ones. Otherwise, wait for the winds to drop and look for a bank elsewhere.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
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
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
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)
1.4
SE
6
1.4
SSE
7
1
ESE
6
1
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
7
1
ESE
7
1
ESE
7
0.6
ESE
11
1
ESE
6
1.1
E
7
0.8
ESE
9
0.8
ESE
7
0.8
ESE
7
1.2
ENE
6
1
ENE
6
0.9
ENE
6
0.9
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.7
NE
7
0.5
NE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
157
175
80
85
70
81
85
85
100
88
107
99
59
60
103
80
64
81
96
56
25
Wind (km/h)
20
SE
15
SSE
10
SE
10
SE
10
ESE
5
NE
5
E
15
E
5
NW
5
NW
10
ENE
10
NW
10
N
20
NE
10
W
15
NW
25
NW
15
NW
15
WNW
35
S
10
SW
Wind State
on
on
on
on
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
High Tide
10:41AM1.34m
10:46PM1.36m
11:23AM1.34m
11:30PM1.20m
12:07PM1.32m
00:16AM1.05m
12:55PM1.29m
1:12AM0.93m
1:51PM1.26m
2:24AM0.86m
2:55PM1.25m
3:46AM0.84m
4:00PM1.27m
Low Tide
4:41PM0.28m
5:03AM0.19m
5:33PM0.35m
5:38AM0.29m
6:29PM0.42m
6:14AM0.38m
7:34PM0.47m
6:57AM0.47m
8:49PM0.50m
7:52AM0.53m
10:06PM0.48m
9:01AM0.55m
11:10PM0.43m
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
light rain
cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:31
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:28
5:29
 mm
7
4
2
4
2
2
5
5
Temp °C
16
16
15
14
15
15
16
16
15
14
15
15
18
17
16
20
18
16
15
12
12
Feels °C
12
12
12
12
13
13
13
14
14
14
13
14
15
14
15
16
13
13
13
5
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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