Surf Forecasts:
North wall surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, ESE swell with 705 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at North wall in the next 16 days are 1.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into what’s lookin’ good for the North Wall (Northwall).
Right off the bat, things are pretty flat and uninspiring. We’ve got a bit of a gap here at the start – the first couple of days aren’t offering anything worth paddling out for. The swell that’s showing on Wednesday the 19th is just not doing the job, with weak, short-period windswell and a messy cross-shore wind. The water temp is sittin’ right around 68°F, which is pretty average for this time of year – nothin’ to write home about.
Thursday morning the 20th is where we start to see a glimmer of hope. A clean offshore breeze from the WSW is blowin’, and the swell is around 6 ft from the ESE. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s more of a windswell, but that offshore wind will have it lookin’ glassy and fun for the beginners this spot is known for. It won’t be the stand-out of the whole window, but it’s a solid, clean session.
After that, we hit a real dry spell. From Friday the 21st right through until around the 26th of August, it’s pretty much a write-off. Tiny swells, onshore or cross-shore winds, and just overall poor conditions. You’d be better off stayin’ on the beach.
Things start to stir again on Thursday the 27th of August. The swell picks up, and we see a clean, cross-off wind from the SSW. The morning has 5 ft from the S, and by the afternoon it jumps to 6 ft from the S, with a period of 11 seconds. The energy in the water really ramps up by the afternoon – that’s moderate to strong energy. This is getting more interesting, but the wind is a bit stronger, and the conditions are still labeled as “marginal,” so it’s not the cleanest.
The real highlight, the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Sunday morning the 30th of August. We’ve got a solid 8 ft swell rolling in from the SSE. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s a bit short, but the wind is a clean cross-off from the SSW. The water is gonna be clean, with that offshore wind groomin’ the faces. Now, 8 ft is gettin’ into the territory where it’s more for the experienced crew – beginners might find it a bit much. It’s the best-looking combination of size and clean conditions in the whole outlook.
Following that, Monday the 31st keeps the size up around 6 ft to 7 ft from the SSE, but the winds are stronger and the conditions are more “marginal.” Then, on Tuesday the 1st of September, the swell size holds at 7 ft from the SSE, and the period stretches out to 11 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. That’s some serious power, but with rain showers and a cross-shore wind, it’s not going to be perfect. That long period, though, means better shaped waves and more push, but at a beach break like this, it can break a bit straight. Worth a look for the experienced surfer who doesn’t mind a bit of weather.
After that, the swell fades out through Wednesday and Thursday, and we’re back to small, poor conditions to end the outlook.
So, if I had to call it: the standout session is Sunday morning, August 30th. The other real looker, despite the rain, is Tuesday morning, September 1st, for the sheer power and longer-period groundswell, but that one’s more for the experts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 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 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
505 | 578 | 238 | 318 | 265 | 97 | 59 | 62 | 62 | 68 | 72 | 78 | 91 | 83 | 70 | 66 | 89 | 116 | 137 | 113 | 92 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | glassy | off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:56PM1.24m | 00:33AM0.98m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:14PM0.62m | 6:53AM0.42m | 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 | ||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 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 |
505 | 578 | 238 | 318 | 265 | 97 | 59 | 62 | 62 | 68 | 72 | 78 | 91 | 83 | 70 | 66 | 89 | 116 | 137 | 113 | 92 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | S 10 | S 9 | E 11 | E 10 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 |
78 | 34 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 45 | 28 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 15 | 38 | 31 | 20 | 18 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 15 | ESE 12 | — | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | S 12 | E 13 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | S 8 | SSE 17 | SSE 14 | S 8 | S 17 | SSE 16 | S 15 | — |
5 | 4 | 29 | — | 10 | 13 | 39 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 18 | 21 | 6 | 24 | 4 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | N 4 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 13 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 9 | 48 | 15 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 281 | 21 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 282 | 38 | 67 | 278 | 1 |
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.











