Surf Forecasts:
North wall surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with 232 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for North wall this week:
The surf forecast for North wall over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at North wall in the next 16 days are 1.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’re looking at a pretty quiet start to the forecast for Northwall. The first few days are a bust – Thursday the 20th has a bit of chest-high swell in the morning, but the wind is onshore by the afternoon, so it’s a washout. After that, we’re looking at a dry spell of small, weak waves and poor conditions right through the end of August. There’s a long gap here with nothing worth paddling out for, honestly.
We finally get a glimmer of hope on Monday the 31st of August. The morning session brings a clean 5ft swell from the ENE, with a light offshore wind from the WNW. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and will be fun for a beginner-friendly wave. The combined swell energy is moderate at 242. If you’re looking for the real standout, you’ll want to wait for Wednesday the 2nd of September. That morning pulses up to a solid 5ft from the E, with a longer 10-second period and a clean cross-off wind from the S. The combined energy jumps to a strong 621, so there’s some proper grunt in the water. This is the best on offer, but at 5ft, it’s getting into the territory where beginners might find it a bit much.
Then, Thursday the 3rd of September is a real treat. The morning is glassy – zero wind – and the swell is a clean 5ft from the E with a 10-second period. The energy is still strong at 513, and the conditions will be absolutely pristine. This is the standout session. It’s a beautiful, clean, long-period groundswell, so expect good shape and longer lulls between sets. Perfect for a point break or reef, though at a beach break it might be a bit straight.
For the rest of the first week of September, the afternoons get chopped up by onshore winds, so mornings are the only game in town. The water temperature is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.
So, to sum it up: the first ten days are a write-off. The action starts on Monday the 31st of August, but the real highlight is the glassy morning of Thursday the 3rd of September. Long-range, but looking promising.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the N by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | SSE 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 300 | 232 | 99 | 47 | 31 | 44 | 75 | 51 | 79 | 73 | 64 | 61 | 93 | 72 | 99 | 103 | 99 | 70 | 85 | 104 | 69 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:57PM1.23m | 1:23AM0.89m | 3:12PM1.25m | 2:44AM0.83m | 4:26PM1.30m | 4:35AM0.84m | 5:22PM1.38m | 5:44AM0.90m | 6:06PM1.45m | 6:31AM0.98m | 6:44PM1.52m | 7:09AM1.06m | 7:19PM1.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:32PM0.69m | 7:40AM0.48m | 10:22PM0.69m | 8:40AM0.52m | 11:39PM0.63m | 9:52AM0.53m | 00:24AM0.55m | 10:59AM0.50m | 00:58AM0.46m | 11:55AM0.45m | 1:29AM0.37m | 12:41PM0.38m | 1:58AM0.30m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | |  |  |  |  | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 300 | 232 | 99 | 47 | 31 | 44 | 75 | 51 | 79 | 73 | 64 | 61 | 66 | 72 | 99 | 103 | 99 | 70 | 85 | 104 | 69 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | ESE 10 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 8 | S 5 | SSE 13 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | N 4 | S 9 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 10 | 21 | 55 | 28 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 93 | 63 | 76 | 83 | 58 | 32 | 9 | 27 | 25 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | ESE 7 | E 13 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 10 | S 11 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | NE 7 | S 10 | S 16 | S 8 |
| kJ | — | 10 | 21 | 39 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 5 | 13 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | NW 3 | NNE 3 | NW 3 | — | S 4 | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 8 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | 6 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 5 | 26 | 12 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 281 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 434 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 38 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the North wall Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for North wall provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at North wall can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our North wall 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 (North wall) 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 North wall 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.
North wall is 3 km (2 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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