Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, S swell with 6,789 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lyall Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break it down in feet and miles per hour.
So, Lyall Bay (Wellington) is looking rough for a good while. Thursday morning has a little 1ft south-southeast swell but the conditions are just okay, nothing special. Then we hit a big dry spell. From Friday the 14th through Monday the 17th, it’s all messy onshore wind and the swell gets way out of hand. That Sunday morning (16th) has a stormy 13ft south swell with onshore winds near 30 mph – absolutely blown out. The combined swell energy is 2159 (strong to very strong), but it’s a total mess for paddling. Only for the kooks on kites.
The first real chance of something good is Wednesday the 19th. The morning has a huge 13ft south groundswell with a long 15-second period, but the forecast says it’s too big for this break. The afternoon cleans up though: 10ft south swell with a light cross-offshore WNW breeze at 3 mph. Still, that size is expert-only.
Your standout is definitely Thursday the 20th afternoon. You get a clean 6ft south swell at 11 seconds, and the wind goes dead glassy from the NNW. That’s the cleanest window we see. Good, manageable size and perfect surface. Swell energy is moderate at 920, but the glassy conditions will make it sweet.
Friday the 21st morning is also decent: 5ft south swell with light offshore NNW wind, clean. Saturday the 22nd stays clean with moderate offshore wind and 4ft south swell, but the energy is dropping. The second week gets windier and smaller – by the 27th, it’s just tiny junk with strong cross-offshore winds.
Bottom line: Thursday the 20th afternoon is your session. Glassy, clean, solid south swell. Everything else is either too big, too windy, or too small.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the S by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 10°C on Sat night, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (gales from the SSW on Sat night, light winds from the SSW by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | S 8 | S 9 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 70 | 32 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 13 | 21 | 51 | 81 | 511 | 2126 | 2311 | 1437 | 890 | 334 | 420 | 958 | 724 | 3806 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:39AM1.60m | 5:01PM1.75m | 5:37AM1.60m | 6:00PM1.72m | 6:34AM1.61m | 6:58PM1.68m | 7:30AM1.63m | 7:55PM1.65m | 8:23AM1.64m | 8:49PM1.63m | 9:14AM1.65m | 9:40PM1.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:24PM0.51m | 10:46AM0.45m | 11:28PM0.53m | 11:45AM0.45m | 00:28AM0.54m | 12:44PM0.47m | 1:24AM0.56m | 1:42PM0.51m | 2:17AM0.58m | 2:40PM0.55m | 3:08AM0.61m | 3:35PM0.59m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | -4 | -4 | -3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SSW 4 | ESE 7 | SSW 16 | ESE 8 | E 13 | S 20 | SE 16 | SSW 14 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 70 | 27 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 21 | 81 | 13 | 3 | 30 | 9 | 280 | 334 | 420 | 222 | 110 | 10 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 7 | SSW 16 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | S 20 | S 20 | SE 15 | ESE 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | S 17 | — |
| kJ | 46 | 32 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 51 | 19 | 17 | 30 | 30 | 9 | 22 | 269 | 170 | — | 5 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSE 9 | SSW 15 | SE 11 | SE 13 | E 11 | — | — | SE 15 | — | SE 11 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 7 | 24 | 23 | 7 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | — | — | 9 | — | 115 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | — | SSW 4 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 9 | S 11 |
| kJ | — | 12 | 13 | 2 | — | 13 | — | 1 | 54 | 511 | 2126 | 2311 | 1437 | 890 | 155 | 170 | 958 | 724 | 3806 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 44 | 44 | 25 | 59 | 201 | 169 | 195 | 110 | 63 | 116 | 63 | 195 | 255 | 88 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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