Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SSW swell with 3,677 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 2.0m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) 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 2.5m 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and we’re lookin’ at a tough stretch for Lyall Bay. The first week’s got a heap of poor conditions – strong winds and not much to sink your fins into. There’s a couple of windows later on, but you gotta be patient.
From Tuesday, August 25th, it’s a miss. Northwesterly winds blowin’ 25 mph, and that 3ft southerly swell with 11 seconds of period ain’t makin’ clean waves. The combined energy is 421 (moderate). Water temp is 52°, right around average for this time of year.
Wednesday, August 26th, same story – poor conditions. Thursday, August 27th morning shows a 6ft SSW swell with a 17-second period (very long-period groundswell), energy at 1904 (strong). The cross-shore wind from the ESE at 9 mph keeps it a bit choppy, but still marginal. The real standout is Thursday afternoon: 6ft S swell, 15-second period, combined energy of 1728 (strong), with a light cross-off northeasterly at 6 mph. That’s clean and only for experienced surfers at that size. That’s your best early call.
Friday, August 28th, gets blown flat by strong offshore winds up to 34 mph – too hard to paddle. Saturday and Sunday are small and weak, with energy numbers between 85 and 209 (weak to moderate), and fresh winds. Not worth it.
Monday, August 31st, brings a massive 15ft SSW swell with a 10-second period and energy of 3682 (very strong). Wind is light from the SSW, but that swell is way too big for this break – experts only. Tuesday, September 1st, drops to 6ft S swell with 14-second period (1063 energy, strong), but it’s marginal with fresh offshore winds.
Then there’s a long gap from Wednesday, September 2nd, through to Sunday, September 7th. Tiny swells – 1ft to 5ft – and mostly poor conditions with onshore or strong offshore winds. Energy numbers from 67 to 240 (weak to moderate). Not worth a wet suit.
Monday, September 8th, is a big standout in the second week: two pulses of 12ft S to SSW swell with 10-second period, energy in the 2090 to 2388 range (very strong). Offshore winds from the NNW at 12 to 16 mph keep it clean. But it’s too big for this break – big-wave chargers only.
Finally, Wednesday, September 9th afternoon offers a nice finish: 6ft S swell, 10-second period, combined energy 668 (moderate), and a light cross-off breeze from the ENE at 6 mph. Clean and the best later call. Crowds are possible, but it’s worth a look.
So, Thursday, August 27th afternoon for the clean groundswell, and Wednesday, September 9th afternoon as the promising second-week option. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too big.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Thu morning, strong winds from the NNW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NNW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the N by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 13 | S 7 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 242 | 165 | 360 | 292 | 250 | 640 | 1790 | 1721 | 848 | 416 | 278 | 157 | 154 | 141 | 71 | 60 | 54 | 627 | 3677 | 2548 | 1185 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | off | off |
High Tide | 2:27PM1.54m | 2:54AM1.42m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:46PM0.71m | 8:51AM0.72m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  | |  |  | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 8 | NNW 6 | SE 11 | — | S 11 |
| kJ | 242 | 136 | 360 | 292 | 250 | 640 | 1790 | 1721 | 848 | 416 | 278 | 157 | 154 | 141 | 71 | 60 | 24 | 4 | 5 | — | 1185 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | NW 6 | S 7 | SE 13 | ESE 5 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | NW 6 | SSW 15 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSW 13 | SE 12 | — | — | SE 11 |
| kJ | 160 | 165 | 8 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 107 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 42 | 23 | 6 | 54 | 5 | — | — | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | SE 14 | — | — | — | ESE 13 | SE 13 | — | E 16 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | NW 9 | SE 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | S 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 19 | 8 | — | — | — | 17 | 7 | — | 5 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 26 | 17 | 19 | 7 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 6 | S 6 | — | — | N 3 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | WNW 4 | NNW 8 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | S 7 | SSW 10 | S 10 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 231 | 53 | 31 | 68 | 160 | 144 | — | — | 5 | 129 | 546 | 309 | 6 | 27 | 175 | 239 | 163 | 627 | 3677 | 2548 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 59 | 38 | 38 | 63 | 211 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 150 | 126 | 59 | 0 | 38 | 61 | 126 | 193 | 145 | 25 | 63 | 0 |
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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