Surf Forecasts:
Mooloolaba surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 7s period, ESE swell with 501 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mooloolaba this week:
The surf forecast for Mooloolaba over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mooloolaba in the next 16 days are 2.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) 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 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mooloolaba over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our local stretch. To be straight up with you, the next 16 days are a bit of a grind. We’ve got a long stretch of average-to-poor conditions before we see a glimmer of something decent right at the very end. If you’re itching for a paddle, patience is the name of the game.
The first real chance for anything worth getting wet for doesn’t arrive until Thursday the 20th of August. Before that, from Sunday the 16th right through to Wednesday the 19th, it’s a write-off. The swell is there, running 4ft to 7ft from the SE turning ESE, but with a cross-off breeze and short period around 6 to 8 seconds, it’s just messy and blown out. A lot of energy for not much reward, with combined wave energy sitting mostly between 281 and 501 – that’s a lot of power (moderate-to-strong energy) but with no shape to it. For a beginner-friendly spot like Mooloolaba, it’s too much and too rough.
Thursday the 20th sees the first slight improvement. We get a little drop in size to 4ft from the SE, and the wind eases to a gentle breeze, but it’s still cross-off. The combined wave energy drops to 346 (still moderate), and the period nudges up to 8 seconds. The morning looks better than the afternoon, but honestly, the rating only calls it marginal. It’s a pass for me unless you’re desperate to get the salt off your board.
Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are quiet. Friday’s 3ft swell from the ESE is weak (energy of 171) and cross-shore winds ruin it. Saturday morning, however, is a little moment of calm. We get glassy conditions, winds go calm at 0 mph, and a small 4ft E swell rolls in with 8-second period and combined energy of 196 (still weak-to-moderate). It’s clean and surfable, but nothing special. The crowd factor at Mooloolaba is ‘often’, so expect company.
From Sunday the 23rd through to Friday the 28th, it’s mostly a flat and quiet stretch. Swell drops below 3ft for days, wave energy plummets to between 17 and 89 (weak energy), and the winds are all over the shop. We get a few offshore or glassy moments on the 25th and 28th, but with only 1ft to 3ft of swell, it’s barely worth the paddle. A few longboarders might get some glide, but it’s a poor run.
Now, the standout – and I mean the *only* standout in this entire outlook – comes on Monday the 31st of August. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the ENE with an 8-second period and combined wave energy of 408 (strong energy). More importantly, the wind goes offshore from the south at a light 6 mph. That’s clean conditions. It’s not perfect – the period is a bit short, so the waves won’t have that long, lined-up feel, but for Mooloolaba, this is the best on offer in the whole window. The forecast confidence for something this far out is okay, but it’s promising. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.
If you can wait, that Monday the 31st is your session. It won't be a world-class day, but it will be the most fun you'll have in this dry spell. The rest of the time? Keep the board in the car, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
231 | 247 | 193 | 202 | 462 | 456 | 495 | 397 | 452 | 468 | 375 | 147 | 188 | 143 | 140 | 133 | 122 | 122 | 172 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | on |
High Tide | 10:02PM1.76m | 10:26AM1.51m | 10:37PM1.60m | 11:12AM1.47m | 11:10PM1.42m | 12:03PM1.41m | 11:44PM1.26m | 1:05PM1.36m | 00:24AM1.12m | 2:22PM1.35m | 1:26AM1.00m | 3:36PM1.38m | 3:07AM0.95m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:23AM0.26m | 4:26PM0.36m | 4:57AM0.31m | 5:12PM0.50m | 5:33AM0.36m | 6:04PM0.64m | 6:12AM0.41m | 7:15PM0.75m | 6:59AM0.45m | 8:54PM0.80m | 8:02AM0.48m | 10:23PM0.76m | |||||||
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | 8 | 2 | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 14 | E 9 | E 13 | — | — | SE 13 | ESE 11 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 |
16 | 29 | 16 | 17 | 4 | 41 | 3 | — | — | 79 | 73 | 124 | 108 | 101 | 140 | 133 | 122 | 122 | 172 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | — | E 13 | — | — | — | SE 10 | — | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | — |
2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 26 | — | 68 | 188 | 93 | 77 | 62 | 49 | 43 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | 9 | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — |
231 | 247 | 193 | 202 | 462 | 456 | 495 | 397 | 452 | 468 | 375 | 147 | — | 143 | 131 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 34 | 34 | 170 | 34 | 34 | 170 | 165 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 33 | 34 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sunshine Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Mooloolaba Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Mooloolaba provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mooloolaba can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mooloolaba 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 (Mooloolaba) 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 Mooloolaba 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Sunshine Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Mooloolaba, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Sunshine Coast, consider staying in Mooloolaba which is 1 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Sunshine Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Sunshine Coast which is 7 km (4 miles) away, Buderim, Caloundra and Caboolture.











