Surf Forecasts:
Kawana Beach surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, ESE swell with 417 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kawana Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Kawana Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawana Beach in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawana Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper surf. We’ve got a run of small, short-period swell and a lot of onshore and cross-onshore breezes that are going to keep things bumpy and messy. There’s no real stand-out session on the horizon, so if you’re desperate for a paddle, you’ll be hunting for the cleanest windows rather than the biggest waves.
The first week is honestly a write-off for quality. Monday the 17th kicks off with a 7ft ESE swell, but it’s got a short 7-second period and a solid 15 mph SE wind blowing straight onshore. That’s a lot of wind for not much wave shape. The energy reading is moderate at 377, but it’s all chop and no push. Tuesday and Wednesday the 18th and 19th stay in that 6ft range, but the period is still short (8 seconds) and the onshore wind is still there, so expect walls of whitewater rather than anything rideable. By Thursday the 20th the swell drops to 4ft and the wind backs off a touch, but it’s still cross-onshore and the conditions are described as poor.
We go through Friday and most of Saturday the 21st and 22nd with nothing to get excited about. The swell is down around the 3–4ft mark, and while Saturday morning actually has a bit of a cross-off breeze and the conditions are called clean, the wave quality is still only rated as ordinary. You might find a small, crumbly one at Kawana Beach, but don’t set your alarm for a dawn patrol. The energy that morning is weak at 139.
Then we get a tiny glimmer on Sunday the 23rd. The morning looks glassy – that’s the word we like to hear – with a 4ft ENE swell and a 8-second period. The energy is still weak (158), so it’s not going to be epic, but if you’ve got a log and a lot of patience, it could be your best shot for a clean wave in this whole stretch. The water is also sitting at 68°, which is 2° colder than usual – noticeable, so grab the thicker wetsuit.
After that, it’s a long, flat grind. From Monday the 24th all the way to the end of the month, we’re looking at sub-3ft surf, really short periods, and mostly fresh onshore winds kicking up lumps. The energy readings drop to double digits – some days under 100 – which tells you there’s just no push in the water. There’s a couple of mornings on the 25th with a cross-off breeze and a clean look, but the swell is only 3ft. That’s barely a ripple.
Heading into the end of the month and the 1st of September, it gets even smaller – down to 2ft and 2ft, with rain showers and fresh SE winds. You’d need a longboard and a serious love for whitewater to even bother. Honestly, this is one of those stretches where the beach might be better for a run or a sandcastle build than a surf.
So, here’s the deal: no real standouts in the next 16 days. Sunday the 23rd morning is your best bet, and even that’s a stretch. If you’re not desperate, give it a miss. Forecasts can change, but right now it’s looking pretty bleak.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 7 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
373 | 390 | 385 | 346 | 346 | 314 | 375 | 272 | 192 | 275 | 178 | 196 | 159 | 130 | 131 | 108 | 142 | 153 | 155 | 151 | 125 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:12AM1.47m | 11:10PM1.42m | 12:03PM1.41m | 11:44PM1.26m | 1:05PM1.36m | 00:24AM1.12m | 2:22PM1.35m | 1:26AM1.00m | 3:36PM1.38m | 3:07AM0.95m | 4:36PM1.46m | 4:27AM0.97m | 5:23PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:12PM0.50m | 5:33AM0.36m | 6:04PM0.64m | 6:12AM0.41m | 7:15PM0.75m | 6:59AM0.45m | 8:54PM0.80m | 8:02AM0.48m | 10:23PM0.76m | 9:15AM0.48m | 11:23PM0.67m | 10:18AM0.45m | 00:04AM0.57m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 9 | E 14 | — | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ENE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 |
4 | 4 | 41 | 4 | — | 35 | 74 | 79 | 99 | 128 | 178 | 196 | 159 | 130 | 131 | 108 | 142 | 153 | 155 | 151 | 125 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 13 | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | E 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | — | — | SSE 8 | — | ENE 9 | E 11 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 9 |
— | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 66 | 4 | 68 | 56 | — | — | 24 | — | 29 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | E 14 | SE 8 | — | SE 9 | E 8 | S 9 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 7 | SE 10 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
373 | 390 | 385 | 346 | 346 | 314 | 375 | 272 | 192 | 275 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 4 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sunshine Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kawana Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kawana Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kawana Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kawana Beach 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 (Kawana Beach) 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 Kawana Beach 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Sunshine Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Kawana Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Sunshine Coast, consider staying in Mooloolaba which is 4 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Sunshine Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Sunshine Coast which is 9 km (6 miles) away, Buderim, Caloundra and Caboolture.











