
Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 7,993 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wetsuit, let's talk surf.
### Lyall Bay
The first real chance to get wet is Monday the 3rd of August. It's not a classic, but we've got a 4ft swell from the south with a 13-second period, putting out a moderate energy (627). The wind is light and cross from the west, so it's a bit bumpy. By the afternoon, the wind swings offshore from the north, cleaning it up nicely with a 4ft SSW swell. It's a warmer-upper.
Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th are a total loss. We're looking at a massive 18ft SSW swell with a screaming onshore gale. The energy is enormous (7993 and 7656), but it's a washing machine. Don't even think about it.
Then we hit Thursday the 6th – that's the one. The morning is glassy with a light offshore breeze from the WNW, and a 5ft SSE swell with a 10-second period. The energy is a solid 790. The water temp is about normal for this time of year. It's as clean as it gets. The afternoon keeps it going with a gentle offshore breeze and a 5ft swell. This is your best bet in the first week.
Friday the 7th is interesting. We've got a 5ft south swell, but the period is a very long 16 seconds. That's a deep-water groundswell, so the sets will be powerful and spaced out. It's clean with a fresh offshore wind, but that long period will make it fat and wally at the beach. The energy is strong (1669). The better surfers will have a go, but watch out for the crowds.
The weekend of the 8th and 9th is nothing special. Some clean waves Saturday morning with a 5ft south swell, but the wind picks up. Sunday brings back the onshore and a chop.
The second week has a couple of hidden gems. Monday the 10th of August is a glass-off in the afternoon. A 4ft SSE swell, light air, and energy of 709. It's a dream for a longboard. Wednesday the 13th afternoon cleans up with a light offshore and a 4ft SSE swell, but it's a short 8-second period, so the waves will be soft and weak. The energy is low (267).
The final days into the 18th are small and weak. The 18th has a tiny 2ft glassy wave in the morning. Not much to chase.
So, here's the call: Thursday the 6th of August is the stand-out for the cleanest, most enjoyable surf. Monday the 10th afternoon is your second pick for a mellow, glassy session. The rest is a mix of big, stormy junk and small, weak dribble.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Mon morning, near gales from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the NNW by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 11 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 15 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
366 | 402 | 447 | 1512 | 7993 | 7656 | 6687 | 3887 | 2416 | 866 | 491 | 384 | 512 | 1334 | 1614 | 787 | 520 | 396 | 364 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | off | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 8:15AM1.48m | 8:39PM1.52m | 9:01AM1.53m | 9:29PM1.55m | 9:47AM1.59m | 10:17PM1.57m | 10:35AM1.64m | 11:05PM1.60m | 11:25AM1.69m | 11:54PM1.62m | 12:17PM1.73m | 00:46AM1.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:19AM0.69m | 2:21PM0.67m | 3:05AM0.67m | 3:15PM0.66m | 3:50AM0.66m | 4:07PM0.64m | 4:36AM0.63m | 4:58PM0.61m | 5:22AM0.60m | 5:48PM0.58m | 6:09AM0.57m | 6:39PM0.54m | |||||||
— | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 10 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 3 | 9 | 9 | 3 | -5 | -6 | -7 | -2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | E 19 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 15 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 |
366 | 402 | 447 | 1512 | — | — | — | 7 | 2416 | 866 | 491 | 384 | 512 | 1334 | 1614 | 787 | 520 | 396 | 290 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | — | — | — | — | SE 18 | SE 10 | S 11 | SE 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | SE 11 | — | S 16 | S 17 |
245 | 190 | 146 | 47 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 408 | 242 | 213 | 96 | 160 | 90 | 45 | — | 5 | 364 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 22 | S 21 | SSW 19 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 16 | SE 15 | SSE 13 | SSW 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | NW 4 |
9 | 35 | 69 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 57 | 120 | 58 | 175 | 76 | — | — | — | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 3 | — | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 8 |
38 | 5 | 4 | — | 7993 | 7656 | 6687 | 3887 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 129 | 129 | 95 | 78 | 45 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 38 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 198 | 195 | 195 | 110 | 139 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 63 | 61 | 38 | 3 | 15 |
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.











