
Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, S swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with 3,732 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lyall Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lyall Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Grab your board, cause there’s a bit of a wait before Lyall Bay shows us its best face. The next week is a mixed bag, with plenty of size but often messy conditions. Then we get a run of cleaner, more manageable waves that are well worth circling on the calendar.
Right off the bat, Friday afternoon sees a small 2ft SSW swell with a long 17-second period. The wind is howling offshore and the water's a touch warmer than usual, but it's just not showing much push. The energy is weak at 255, and to be honest, it’s not worth getting excited about.
Saturday rolls in with a bigger pulse but the wind swings onshore. Morning has 6ft of SSW swell with moderate energy (1504), but that cross-onshore breeze chops it up. By the afternoon, it’s pumping 10ft from the south with strong energy (3049), but that’s too much juice for Lyall Bay—it’s going to be a washing machine. Leave this one to the experts, and even then, be picky.
Sunday morning is the first real glimmer of hope. We get clean, glassy conditions with a 6ft S swell rolling in at 12 seconds. The energy is solid (1080) and the offshore wind is barely there. This is your window for a proper surf. The afternoon gets a bit cross-onshore again, dropping to 6ft, so make the most of the morning.
Monday keeps things going. Morning has a solid 6ft S swell with gentle offshore winds—clean and very good. The afternoon is a little smaller at 5ft but still clean. This is a good run of consistent, surfable waves.
Tuesday, the swell drops off, and the wind picks up. 3ft and then 3ft with strong offshore breezes. It’s clean but small and weak. Wednesday it’s all over—near gale-force winds and tiny leftovers, not worth a paddle.
There’s a couple of days with nothing on offer before a new pulse arrives. Thursday the 17th sees a short-period 7ft S swell with poor conditions. Friday the 18th is small and ordinary.
The standout window looks like Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th. Light winds, clean faces, and a proper 6-6ft south groundswell with decent periods. This is the pick of the fortnight. You get head-high sets, clean lines, and the crowd factor is always possible at Lyall Bay, so get in early.
The following week gets trickier. There’s a massive 11-13ft pulse on Sunday the 20th, but that’s just too big and blown out by strong winds—kite-surf territory, not a paddle-surf day. The energy readings for those are huge (1475 and 2574), but it’s not for us.
Look towards the end of the month. Friday morning the 25th looks promising again with a clean 5ft S swell and gentle offshore winds, good energy (547). After that, the wind gets strong again, but the swell holds. It’s a longer-range call, so treat it as promising, not certain.
So, to sum it up: don’t waste your time this weekend unless you’re an expert. Wait for Sunday and Monday for the best clean, mid-sized surf. The end of the week after that has some potential, but we’ll see. Keep an eye on the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Mon night, near gales from the NNW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 6 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
243 | 1509 | 3420 | 2499 | 1080 | 911 | 1095 | 786 | 526 | 279 | 186 | 68 | 56 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 178 | 106 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:15AM1.59m | 5:39PM1.64m | 6:10AM1.60m | 6:35PM1.62m | 7:04AM1.62m | 7:30PM1.60m | 7:56AM1.64m | 8:22PM1.59m | 8:44AM1.64m | 9:11PM1.58m | 9:31AM1.63m | 9:57PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:04PM0.59m | 11:28AM0.51m | 00:02AM0.62m | 12:25PM0.55m | 00:56AM0.64m | 1:21PM0.59m | 1:46AM0.67m | 2:16PM0.63m | 2:35AM0.69m | 3:10PM0.66m | 3:22AM0.70m | 3:59PM0.68m | |||||||
— | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NNW 6 | S 6 |
243 | 1509 | 3420 | 2499 | 1080 | 911 | 1095 | 786 | 526 | 279 | 186 | 47 | 56 | 22 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 106 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | E 7 | — | — | NW 3 | S 21 | — | — | — | SE 12 | SE 11 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 8 | SE 12 | SSW 13 | NNW 8 |
9 | 4 | — | — | 4 | 9 | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 68 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 17 | NE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 15 | SE 10 | S 8 | ESE 11 | SSW 15 |
6 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 5 | SSW 6 | — |
17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 13 | 35 | 33 | 275 | 476 | 260 | 30 | 178 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 27 | 25 | 3 | 25 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 38 | 54 | 108 | 88 | 88 | 61 | 61 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lyall Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lyall Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lyall Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lyall Bay 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 (Lyall Bay) 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 Lyall Bay 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.
Lyall Bay is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Wellington. If you plan a holiday in Wellington, look for hotels and other accommodation in Wellington. Wellington has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










