Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 5,603 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 17s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lyall Bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down the next couple of weeks for Lyall Bay. It’s a bit of a waiting game, to be honest.
The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 26th is a total mess with a strong nor’westerly. Thursday the 27th shows a little hope with a 5ft southerly groundswell, but it’s a bit messy in the morning. The afternoon cleans up with a light cross-off breeze, and that’s probably your best bet for the first week. The combined energy is huge – 1525 to 1884 – but that 17-second period swell can be a bit straight at this beach. It’s one for the experienced guys.
Then we hit a long, dry patch. From Friday the 28th all the way through to Sunday the 6th of September, it’s just relentless strong nor’westers. We get some massive pulses of swell, like Monday the 31st of August with an 12ft southerly swell (combined energy of 3925) and Tuesday the 1st of September with a 13ft southerly swell (combined energy of 4358), but those are way too big for here. The forecast even says it’s too big for the break. The water is sitting at 53°, which is pretty normal for this time of year.
The one real standout is Thursday the 3rd of September. The afternoon is looking incredible. The wind goes glassy from the east-southeast at just 3 mph. The swell is a solid 8ft from the south with an 11-second period, giving a combined energy of 1469. That’s a powerful, clean swell. It’s big, so it’s for experts only, but if you’re up for it, that’s the day. The morning of that day is also a 10ft southerly swell, but the afternoon with the glassy conditions is the pick.
After that, it’s back to the wind. The rest of the forecast is a mix of windy, choppy conditions and small, weak swells. The week of the 7th of September is a lot of the same – tiny waves with strong winds. Monday the 7th of September is a small 1ft glassy morning, but it’s hardly worth the effort.
So, the short version: the first few days are poor, then a long, windy gap, then one proper session on Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon. After that, it’s more wind. Save your energy for that Thursday.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Thu morning, near gales from the NNW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Sat morning, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | S 17 | S 17 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 14 | S 7 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 292 | 250 | 763 | 1357 | 1837 | 848 | 416 | 282 | 160 | 198 | 149 | 100 | 32 | 36 | 435 | 3925 | 1754 | 1947 | 4358 | 2259 | 1570 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:09PM1.52m | 3:39AM1.41m | 3:54PM1.51m | 4:26AM1.41m | 4:42PM1.51m | 5:15AM1.43m | 5:34PM1.51m | 6:06AM1.46m | 6:28PM1.52m | 6:57AM1.50m | 7:24PM1.54m | 7:48AM1.56m | 8:18PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:30PM0.72m | 9:38AM0.71m | 10:20PM0.72m | 10:28AM0.70m | 11:15PM0.73m | 11:19AM0.69m | 00:10AM0.72m | 12:13PM0.68m | 1:01AM0.71m | 1:08PM0.67m | 1:50AM0.69m | 2:06PM0.65m | 2:39AM0.67m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | S 17 | S 17 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 12 | NW 7 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 292 | 250 | 763 | 1357 | 1837 | 848 | 416 | 282 | 160 | 198 | 149 | 100 | 32 | 16 | 322 | 3925 | 1754 | 15 | 4358 | 2259 | 1570 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | WNW 6 | S 7 | SE 13 | E 5 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SSE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 14 | NW 6 | — | SE 11 | — | — | — | S 17 |
| kJ | 19 | 18 | 82 | 161 | 6 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 41 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 36 | 6 | — | 5 | — | — | — | 459 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | ESE 12 | SE 16 | ESE 15 | SE 14 | S 15 | S 15 | S 19 | ESE 12 | SSE 10 | NW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 7 | — | 13 | 10 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 6 | — | — | E 5 | N 3 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | S 7 | — | NW 6 | S 9 | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 54 | 172 | — | — | 41 | 4 | 131 | 1056 | 228 | 153 | 331 | 79 | 179 | 192 | 435 | — | 208 | 1947 | — | 6 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 38 | 63 | 61 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 126 | 63 | 59 | 77 | 0 | 1 | 77 | 116 | 2 | 77 | 2 | 27 | 55 | 63 |
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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