Southport Main Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 27.98° S 153.43° E

Southport Main Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Southport Main Beach sea temperature is
20.9° C
0.1° 

Southport Main Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Southport Main Beach surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 2,767 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Wed 22nd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Best Surf 4PM (Wed 22nd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Most Powerful 1AM (Mon 20th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Southport Main Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what Southport Main Beach is looking like for the next couple weeks.

First off, this beach break is normally pretty consistent, but the first few days are a total loss. From Sunday the 19th right through until Wednesday morning the 22nd, it’s a mess. There’s a big, raw 3.5m swell with a combined energy of 2471 (moderate to strong), but with near gale force cross-shore winds, rain, and crossing waves, it’s unsurfable. Honestly, this is more of a kiteboarding scene than a paddling one.

The big turnaround comes Wednesday afternoon the 22nd. The wind drops to glassy, and the swell settles to a tidy 1.3m from the east with a 9-second period. Energy is down to 290 (weak), but the surface will be clean and smooth. This is your best bet – small, clean, and perfect for beginners. Water temp is 21°, which is right on average for this time of year.

Thursday the 23rd has a brief window of glassy conditions in the morning with a 1.0m east swell, but the period is only 8 seconds and energy is 159 (weak). It’s surfable but nothing special. The afternoon gets choppy again with onshore wind.

From Friday the 24th through the end of the month, it’s a long stretch of tiny, weak surf. The combined energy often drops below 100 (weak), and swell periods fall to 4 or 5 seconds. There are a few clean moments – like Saturday the 25th afternoon with a light offshore from the WNW, and Wednesday the 29th morning with a clean cross-off from the NW – but the swell is barely 0.5m to 0.8m. Not enough to get out of bed for, even if it’s glassy.

Into August, the 1st has a bit more size (1.2m from the south) but it’s cross-on and choppy. The last worthwhile glimpse is Sunday the 2nd afternoon: light offshore from the WNW, a small 0.6m southeast swell with a 10-second period, and energy at 112 (weak). It’s clean but tiny. Monday the 3rd morning also has a clean 0.7m swell from the SSE – again, just a little wave.

So the one true standout is Wednesday the 22nd afternoon – glassy and clean with a fun 1.3m east swell. That’s the only time it really comes together. The rest of the window is either too blown out or too flat. This spot doesn’t usually go this quiet for this long, so don’t write it off completely – things can always change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, calm by Wed morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
2
2
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
ESE
10
3.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
2.4
ESE
10
1.8
E
10
1.6
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.3
E
9
1.2
E
9
1
E
8
0.9
E
8
1
E
8
0.8
E
8
1.1
SE
7
0.9
E
8
0.8
E
7
0.8
E
7
0.7
E
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2471
2767
2162
1588
1746
1064
587
434
367
270
220
140
108
130
78
118
92
68
67
51
Wind (km/h)
45
SSE
40
SSE
40
SE
35
SSE
25
SSE
25
SE
20
SE
15
S
10
SSE
5
N
10
WNW
5
W
20
ESE
10
SSW
25
SSE
20
SE
10
SSW
15
NW
10
WNW
10
SSW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
glassy
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
00:07AM1.37m
12:55PM1.18m
00:49AM1.21m
1:53PM1.18m
1:34AM1.08m
3:00PM1.20m
2:28AM0.97m
4:10PM1.25m
3:37AM0.90m
5:09PM1.32m
4:53AM0.88m
5:56PM1.40m
Low Tide
5:53PM0.42m
6:42AM0.30m
6:52PM0.52m
7:25AM0.34m
8:01PM0.59m
8:11AM0.36m
9:24PM0.63m
9:00AM0.37m
10:45PM0.61m
9:53AM0.37m
11:48PM0.55m
10:45AM0.35m
00:36AM0.48m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:09
5:09
5:10
5:10
5:12
5:12
 mm
1
3
2
2
2
Temp °C
18
19
19
19
18
19
19
17
18
18
17
20
19
16
17
16
13
18
20
14
Feels °C
9
13
12
13
12
15
15
15
18
18
16
19
16
14
13
12
10
12
15
10
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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