Surf Forecasts:
Southport Main Beach surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 2,372 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m 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 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 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, and it’s a bleak stretch. The next 16 days are a total washout, no two ways about it.
The first week is ruled by fierce winds. From Saturday, July 18, all the way through to Tuesday, July 21, the wind is howling from the south and southeast at 25 to 45 mph, making a mess of things. The swell is big, 8 to 12 feet, with the combined wave energy hitting 2852, 2412, 2194—that’s strong to very strong. But it’s all cross-chop and lumpy. This is not for surfing. This is for kiteboards. The water temp is about 70°, which is average for the year.
We get a short break on Wednesday, July 22. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell drops to a cleaner 5 feet from the east, with a period of 9 seconds. Southport Main Beach will be clean and smooth, but the waves are small and weak. The combined energy is 337, just moderate. It’s a tiny window to get a few gutless ones.
After that, it’s back to the bad stuff. Thursday, July 23 has a glassy morning but the swell is down to 3 feet, and by the afternoon the wind is back onshore. From Friday, July 24, the wind stays strong, and the swell drops hard. By Saturday, July 26, we’re down to 3 feet, and the energy is weak.
The second week is a total flat spell. From July 26 right through to August 2, the swell is barely 1 to 3 feet, with next to no energy. The wind is all over the place, but mostly cross or cross-onshore. That’s a solid 8-day gap with nothing worth paddling for. That’s just how it goes here sometimes.
The only weird thing is a long-period groundswell showing up on Friday, August 1, with a 13-second period from the east, but the swell is only 2 feet and the wind is onshore. The combined energy is 193, which is weak. Not worth a second look.
So, the only day to even consider is Wednesday, July 22, for a glassy, small-wave session. The rest is a total loss. Stay dry.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sun morning, moderate winds from the SE by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SSE by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1489 | 2291 | 1522 | 2194 | 2372 | 1886 | 1422 | 1047 | 1042 | 690 | 365 | 313 | 258 | 165 | 133 | 105 | 99 | 373 | 244 | 96 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:25PM1.52m | 12:03PM1.19m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:01PM0.33m | 6:01AM0.26m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — |
mm | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | E 18 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 1489 | 6 | 890 | — | — | — | — | — | 673 | 556 | 365 | 313 | 258 | 165 | 133 | 105 | 99 | 51 | 36 | 76 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | NE 9 | SE 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | — | — | — | 3 | 51 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 20 | SE 16 | SE 14 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 1363 | 2291 | 1522 | 2194 | 2372 | 1886 | 1422 | 1047 | 1042 | 690 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 69 | 373 | 244 | 96 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 783 | 667 | 667 | 572 | 344 | 162 | 162 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 24 | 344 | 24 | 24 |
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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