Surf Forecasts:
Southport Main Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, SE swell with 573 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Southport Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Southport Main Beach is in a real quiet spell. Water temp is about 68°, which is normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
From now through the rest of August and into early September, it's mostly flat. The 16th through the 20th is a run of poor conditions—cross-onshore winds, short-period swells, and lumpy surf. Waves are 4 to 6 ft, but the period is short (6 to 8 seconds), and the combined energy is weak, under 300 (143 to 330). Not much to work with.
There's a little window on the morning of Friday, August 21st. We get a 4 ft easterly swell with a short 7-second period, so energy is weak (152). The wind is glassy from the northeast, so it'll be clean. But it's just ordinary—small, weak, and barely surfable.
From Saturday the 22nd onward, it's downhill. Waves drop to 3 ft and then down to 1 ft by the 31st. The wind turns offshore at times, like on the 25th and 26th, but the swell is tiny. Combined energy is down to 29 by the 29th, and that's just not enough.
The best you'll see is the morning of Friday, August 21st: a small, glassy, 4 ft easterly swell. It's not great, but it's the standout in a very quiet period. Even then, it's only for beginners or a mellow session.
Plain and simple: no good surf on the horizon for the next 16 days. There's a 4-day gap of poor conditions to start, then a long stretch of tiny waves. Forecasts can change, but for now, it's a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 227 | 223 | 259 | 228 | 276 | 322 | 521 | 167 | 196 | 120 | 232 | 196 | 159 | 130 | 108 | 109 | 91 | 99 | 94 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 10:51PM1.38m | 11:26AM1.27m | 11:27PM1.22m | 12:12PM1.23m | 00:04AM1.08m | 1:04PM1.20m | 00:45AM0.95m | 2:07PM1.18m | 1:41AM0.84m | 3:23PM1.20m | 3:04AM0.79m | 4:32PM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:11AM0.21m | 5:28PM0.39m | 5:47AM0.27m | 6:21PM0.49m | 6:24AM0.32m | 7:28PM0.58m | 7:08AM0.37m | 8:57PM0.61m | 8:04AM0.41m | 10:29PM0.58m | 9:09AM0.42m | 11:31PM0.50m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — |
mm | 4 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 13 | E 9 | — | E 15 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 11 | ENE 7 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 23 | 25 | 4 | 27 | — | 4 | 192 | 167 | 196 | 62 | 232 | 196 | 159 | 130 | 108 | 109 | 91 | 99 | 94 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 18 | — | S 18 | — | — | — | SE 10 | SE 11 | S 8 | ESE 10 | NE 9 | — | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | ENE 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 12 | — | 6 | — | — | — | 58 | 121 | 6 | 120 | 3 | — | 67 | 22 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | ESE 12 | — | — | ESE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 10 | SE 7 | — | S 9 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 50 | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 227 | 223 | 259 | 228 | 276 | 322 | 521 | — | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 13 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 77 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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