Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater and Harbord surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SE swell with 582 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Freshwater and Harbord this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater and Harbord in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here, checkin’ in on the local surf for the next couple weeks. It’s a pretty quiet stretch, with a big dry spell of not much to get excited about.
We’re talkin’ Freshwater and Harbord (Freshwater), a consistent, sheltered beginner-friendly break. The water’s sittin’ at 62°F, which is a bit colder than average for this time, so suit up. From Tuesday the 11th right through the 20th of August, there’s almost nothin’ – tiny waves under 2ft, with mostly cross-off or cross-shore winds, and weak energy (combined swell energy mostly between 18 and 78). Total poor conditions, so save your energy. Around Sunday the 16th into Monday the 17th, a pulse of 6ft to 7ft swell from the SSE and ESE shows up, but it’s onshore wind and short period (6 to 8 seconds), makin’ it lumpy and messy. Energy hits moderate to strong in the 200–500 range, but the wind ruins it. This setup looks more like kite-surfing conditions than paddlin’ waves.
The gap of poor surf drags on through most of the week, until Friday morning the 21st of August throws a small bone. A 3ft swell from the east, 10-second period, with offshore wind from the NW at just 3 mph. Combined energy is moderate at 210. Clean conditions, but it’s surfable waves and very ordinary – a tiny, weak wave for the die-hards.
The standout is definitely Sunday the 23rd of August morning. A bigger pulse hits – 6ft from the NE, 10-second period, with cross-shore wind from the SSW at 16 mph. The combined swell energy is strong at 1276, so there’s real power. At 6ft, it’s gettin’ chunky – good for intermediate to advanced surfers, but might be too big for beginners. The cross-shore wind will leave a bit of a cross-chop, but this is the best size and energy we see. Freshwater gets “often” crowded, so expect a crowd if you go. After that, Monday the 24th drops to 4ft with a long 11-second period from the east, but poor conditions again.
If you’re only paddlin’ out once, Sunday morning the 23rd is the call. The rest of the run into the 26th is tiny and forgettable. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 78 | 78 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 50 | 54 | 35 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 18 | 18 | 227 | 277 | 407 | 464 | 372 | 491 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 7:01PM1.74m | 7:50AM1.17m | 7:51PM1.76m | 8:35AM1.24m | 8:37PM1.72m | 9:18AM1.29m | 9:21PM1.64m | 10:00AM1.32m | 10:04PM1.51m | 10:41AM1.34m | 10:46PM1.36m | 11:23AM1.34m | 11:30PM1.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:29PM0.27m | 1:50AM-0.01m | 1:23PM0.22m | 2:34AM-0.04m | 2:14PM0.19m | 3:14AM-0.02m | 3:03PM0.19m | 3:52AM0.02m | 3:52PM0.22m | 4:28AM0.10m | 4:41PM0.28m | 5:03AM0.19m | 5:33PM0.35m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | ENE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | S 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 |
| kJ | 78 | 723 | 584 | 314 | 160 | 86 | 54 | 399 | 159 | 184 | 157 | 150 | 29 | 18 | 187 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 46 | 40 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | S 11 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | S 15 | S 20 | S 11 | S 16 | S 15 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 11 | S 11 |
| kJ | 3 | 78 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 50 | 20 | 35 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 18 | 8 | 37 | 46 | 39 | 10 | 18 | 24 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 16 | S 19 | S 13 | S 19 | S 19 | S 16 | S 15 | — | ENE 10 | — | — | S 16 | ENE 9 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 29 | 29 | 20 | 4 | — | 18 | — | — | 19 | 17 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | — | W 4 | WNW 3 | — | W 3 | S 8 | S 9 | — | W 3 | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | — | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 120 | — | 9 | 4 | — | 8 | 117 | 623 | — | 2 | — | — | 311 | 422 | — | 227 | 277 | 407 | 464 | 372 | 491 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 62 | 10 | 189 | 187 | 187 | 165 | 154 | 115 | 10 |
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.
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