Surf Forecasts:
Manly surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, S swell with 356 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Manly this week:
The surf forecast for Manly over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Manly in the next 16 days are 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Manly over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty checkin' in from Manly. Let's have a look at what's cookin'.
Right off the bat, it’s a tough stretch. The forecast for the next couple of weeks is a real mixed bag, with a whole lot of ordinary days and only a couple of windows that might get the heart racing. The water’s sitting at 62°, which is about a degree and a half cooler than usual for this time of year, so you’ll feel that nip in the air and the water.
Sunday morning (23rd August) is a bit of a tease. We’ve got a 5ft swell rolling in from the south, and it's glassy with a NNE breeze at just 3 mph. That’s the kind of start you want, but the wave comment says it all: "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions". The energy is moderate (358), but it just doesn’t have the shape. It’s a beginner-friendly point break, but the quality isn't there for a standout session.
Then the bottom falls out. From Sunday afternoon right through to Tuesday the 26th, it’s a write-off. Onshore winds, cross-onshore junk, and small, weak waves. Monday arvo (24th) is particularly grim with a 16 mph onshore breeze. Wednesday morning (26th) gives a flicker of hope with a 4ft swell and a clean, moderate offshore wind from the SSW, but the swell direction is ENE which isn't ideal for Manly’s sheltered setup, and the energy is weak (204).
Thursday and Friday are more of the same – small, choppy, and uninspiring. Saturday the 29th sees a clean 3ft SSE swell with a gentle offshore, but it’s tiny.
Now, for the one true standout. Look at Monday the 31st of August. The morning session has a 2ft swell from the south, but the period is a massive 18 seconds. That is proper, long-period groundswell energy (480 – strong energy). The wind is a glassy offshore from the SW at just 3 mph. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook. The waves will have serious push and shape for a small wave, and it’ll be clean as a whistle. Manly is a sheltered point, and that long period will wrap in nicely. Be warned: crowds are often a thing here, so get out early.
After that, the rest of the first week of September fades out. Tuesday the 1st has a 3ft south swell with a 14-second period, but it’s cross-shore and messy. The 3rd of September has a bigger 5ft SSE swell, but it’s short period (7 seconds) and not clean enough to be a goer. The 4th has a clean 3ft S swell with a cross-offshore breeze, but again, it’s just small and ordinary.
The second week is quiet. The 6th and 7th of September offer tiny, weak waves with poor to fair conditions. Nothing to get excited about.
So, to sum it up: the whole 16-day run is a drought with one decent drink of water on Monday the 31st of August. Get that glassy, long-period groundswell session in, because everything else is a pass for serious surfing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | S 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
320 | 222 | 247 | 123 | 96 | 178 | 150 | 229 | 164 | 162 | 130 | 280 | 320 | 187 | 303 | 196 | 91 | 137 | 119 | 96 | 73 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:57PM1.32m | 5:49AM0.92m | 5:45PM1.39m | 6:30AM0.99m | 6:27PM1.45m | 7:07AM1.06m | 7:05PM1.51m | 7:42AM1.14m | 7:41PM1.53m | 8:16AM1.21m | 8:16PM1.53m | 8:50AM1.28m | 8:52PM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:09AM0.53m | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.49m | 00:38AM0.30m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:12AM0.23m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:44AM0.17m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:15AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.28m | 2:45AM0.10m | 2:40PM0.25m | 3:16AM0.10m | |||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
320 | 157 | 247 | 123 | 96 | 124 | 97 | 151 | 164 | 162 | 130 | 280 | 320 | 187 | 303 | 196 | 91 | 137 | 119 | 96 | 73 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | S 13 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | S 18 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 16 | S 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
9 | 222 | 18 | 6 | 25 | 72 | 45 | 28 | 14 | 42 | 9 | 76 | 52 | 54 | 68 | 58 | 56 | 44 | 61 | 67 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | E 14 | E 14 | S 17 | E 13 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | — | S 14 | — | S 15 | S 15 | ENE 9 | S 14 | SSE 10 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 |
23 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 3 | 9 | 23 | 19 | 46 | — | 15 | — | 4 | 38 | 88 | 35 | 75 | 44 | 39 | 32 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | ENE 9 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNW 3 | SW 3 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | SSW 2 | S 4 | S 4 |
6 | 52 | 29 | 45 | 70 | 178 | 150 | 229 | 1 | 6 | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 17 | 1 | 12 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 168 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sydney North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Manly Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Manly provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Manly can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Manly 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 (Manly) 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 Manly 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.
Manly is 6 km (4 miles) from Dee Why. If you plan a holiday in Sydney North Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dee Why. Dee Why has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










