Surf Forecasts:
Icelands surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with 2,968 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Icelands this week:
The surf forecast for Icelands over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Icelands in the next 16 days are 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WIB) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Icelands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watching the charts for you.
Alright, we’ve got a solid run of swell coming through for Icelands, a reef break that’s exposed to that SSW direction it loves. The water temperature is sitting at 85°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit. The action kicks off now and runs through, but don’t expect perfection every day – there’s a bit of a mixed bag here.
The combined swell energy is strong to very strong at the start, with readings around 3025, but the surf is a bit messy with a cross-off wind and some questionable tide conditions. It’s clean enough but not firing on all cylinders. Thursday the 20th morning has 8 ft of SSW swell at a long 16 seconds, but that wind is just cross-off, so it’s a bit of a struggle. The energy drops a touch through Friday and Saturday, still with that long-period groundswell, but the wind stays cross-off, keeping things clean but not epic.
Now, Sunday the 23rd morning is where it starts to get interesting. 6 ft of SSW swell at 14 seconds, with a cross-off breeze and clean conditions – that’s excellent for experienced surfers. The combined energy is still strong at 1587. Monday the 24th morning is another standout: 4 ft at 16 seconds, glassy clean, with that long period making for some well-shaped waves. The energy is moderate at 1189, but the quality is there for the crew who know what they’re doing.
The middle of the week fades a bit, with energy dropping to moderate levels around 600 to 900, but the swell holds. Then Thursday the 27th morning throws a curveball: 3 ft of SSW swell with a very long 19-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and combined energy jumps back to 1239. It’s excellent for experienced surfers, but that long period can make beach breaks close out – at a reef like Icelands, it’ll be a treat. Friday the 28th afternoon is also clean with 5 ft at 15 seconds, a light breeze, and excellent conditions.
The real highlight, though, is way out there on Monday the 31st of August. The afternoon session looks exceptional for expert surfers. 8 ft of SSW swell at 19 seconds, combined energy of 5009 – that’s very strong, and the wind is light and cross-off, keeping it clean. That’s a big, powerful groundswell, and it’s going to be firing. The following Tuesday the 1st of September morning is also solid, with 8 ft at 17 seconds and light winds, energy at 3814. But remember, that’s a long way out, so it’s promising but not locked in.
The end of the run sees the swell drop, but there are still some clean, glassy moments on the 2nd and 3rd of September, with 6 ft and 5 ft SSW swell, light winds, and glassy conditions – perfect for a quiet session.
Overall, I’d say the standout picks are the afternoon of Monday the 31st of August for the big, powerful, clean swell, and the morning of Sunday the 23rd of August for a more manageable but still epic session. For the rest, it’s fun but not the best of the best. Icelands can get crowded often, so keep that in mind if you’re chasing a peak.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3005 | 2716 | 2109 | 1676 | 1208 | 2610 | 2054 | 1682 | 1321 | 1207 | 743 | 1018 | 661 | 1310 | 1168 | 904 | 742 | 595 | 472 | 479 | 358 | |
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-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:39AM0.65m | 11:54PM0.90m | 11:18AM0.55m | 1:13AM0.85m | 1:47PM0.49m | 2:41AM0.85m | 3:37PM0.51m | 3:51AM0.91m | 4:40PM0.58m | 4:43AM0.98m | 5:22PM0.67m | 5:23AM1.05m | 5:57PM0.77m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:30PM0.22m | 5:56AM0.41m | 5:10PM0.28m | 7:37AM0.45m | 6:09PM0.34m | 11:10AM0.39m | 7:38PM0.37m | 11:24AM0.32m | 9:14PM0.35m | 11:37AM0.26m | 10:21PM0.30m | 11:55AM0.19m | 11:10PM0.24m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 7 | 4 | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 14 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 |
3005 | 2716 | 2109 | 1676 | 1208 | 2610 | 2054 | 1682 | 1321 | 1207 | 743 | 1018 | 491 | 1310 | 1168 | 904 | 742 | 595 | 472 | 479 | 358 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 22 | S 19 | S 18 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | S 18 | S 20 | S 19 | S 18 | SSW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | SSW 18 | S 24 | S 8 |
20 | 10 | 37 | 592 | 1033 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 99 | 373 | 738 | 759 | 661 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 11 | 74 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 16 | W 16 | S 24 | SSW 22 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 19 | W 10 | SW 16 | W 7 | — | — | SSW 18 | W 8 | SSW 12 |
— | — | 11 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 156 | 7 | 50 | — | 37 | 2 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 1 | 187 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 10 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | — | SE 5 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — |
— | 28 | 10 | 15 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 8 | 9 | 50 | 43 | — | 41 | 57 | 36 | 69 | 73 | 99 | 99 | 101 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 33 | 33 | 0 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 414 | 33 | 33 | 414 | 145 | 33 | 0 | 39 |
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Information about the Icelands Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Icelands provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Icelands can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Icelands 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 (Icelands) 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 Icelands 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.











