Surf Forecasts:
Southport Main Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, E swell with 187 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Southport Main Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Southport Main Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Southport Main Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Southport Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Well, it’s a bit of a slow start for Southport Main Beach over the next week or so, but there’s a real bright spot coming your way if you’re patient. The opening days are pretty flat and messy, so don’t bother rushing out just yet.
The swell energy is weak (58 to 163) for the first week, with small waves around 2ft to 3ft and short periods of 7 to 8 seconds. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or onshore, keeping things choppy and uninviting. Water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are a write-off—tiny, poor surf. Sunday through Tuesday the 23rd to 25th don’t get much better. The real shift comes on Wednesday the 26th, with a bit of clean offshore wind from the west, but the waves are still only 3ft and ordinary. Surfable, but nothing to write home about.
Now, Thursday the 27th is the standout. Morning glass-off conditions with a light SSE breeze, the swell bumps up to 4ft from the east at 8 seconds, and the energy climbs to 214 (moderate). The report says “expect good surf conditions,” and I’d agree—clean, glassy waves for a fun session. The afternoon gets wrecked by a gusty ESE cross-onshore, so make it an early one.
After that, Friday the 28th to Tuesday the 1st of September goes back to small, poor surf with cross-winds and choppy conditions. The next gem is Sunday the 30th of August morning—swell jumps to 5ft from the ENE, but the period is short at 7 seconds. The energy is strong (383), and with a light WSW cross-offshore, it’s clean. That’s solid for more experienced surfers, as 5ft can be a bit much for beginners. The afternoon drops off, though.
The rest of the period into early September stays small and onshore, with occasional long-period energy (11 seconds on the 3rd) but poor cross-onshore winds ruining it. The last day, Saturday the 5th of September morning, shows a glimmer with 3ft from the ENE, 10-second period, and light NNW cross-offshore—clean, but surfable, not epic.
So, bottom line: Thursday the 27th morning is your best bet for clean, fun waves. Sunday the 30th morning is the next call for a bit more size. Everything else is a wait-and-see. Stay keen, and the ocean will come around.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 130 | 82 | 61 | 45 | 49 | 51 | 76 | 62 | 58 | 55 | 58 | 79 | 127 | 118 | 140 | 137 | 127 | 123 | 131 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 1:41AM0.84m | 3:23PM1.20m | 3:04AM0.79m | 4:32PM1.25m | 4:42AM0.80m | 5:25PM1.33m | 5:45AM0.86m | 6:07PM1.41m | 6:29AM0.94m | 6:43PM1.48m | 7:06AM1.03m | 7:17PM1.54m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:04AM0.41m | 10:29PM0.58m | 9:09AM0.42m | 11:31PM0.50m | 10:15AM0.40m | 00:13AM0.42m | 11:10AM0.36m | 00:48AM0.33m | 11:57AM0.31m | 1:19AM0.26m | 12:39PM0.26m | 1:48AM0.20m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 130 | 82 | 61 | 45 | 49 | 51 | 76 | 62 | 58 | 55 | 58 | 79 | 127 | 118 | 140 | 137 | 127 | 123 | 131 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | NE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 11 | NE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 10 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 |
| kJ | 59 | 47 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 14 | E 11 | E 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | NE 10 | E 12 | SE 14 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 5 | — | E 16 | S 9 | S 9 | — |
| kJ | 9 | 34 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | 5 | 14 | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 181 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 24 | 0 | 18 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 650 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Southport Main Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Southport Main Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Southport Main Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Southport Main Beach 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 (Southport Main Beach) 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 Southport Main Beach 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.
Southport Main Beach is 3 km (2 miles) from Surfers Paradise. If you plan a holiday in Gold Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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