Surf Forecasts:
North wall surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, ESE swell with 302 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at North wall in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I've been staring at the charts for Northwall. Let's get straight into it.
First thing you need to know – the next week and a bit is pretty grim. From the 19th of August right through to the 31st, it's a wasteland. We're looking at a solid 12-day stretch of nothing worth paddling for. Small, weak, messy stuff with onshore or cross-shore winds. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is bang on average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
The only real glimmer in the first week is Thursday morning, the 20th. The swell bumps up to 5 ft from the ESE, with a period of 8 seconds and a combined energy of 310 (moderate). The wind goes glassy, dead calm from the SW. That's a rare window of clean conditions. But it's a beach/groyne setup, so that short period (8 seconds) won't produce the best shape. It's surfable, but don't expect anything world-class.
Then we hit a long, dead lull. From the 21st through the 30th, it's all small, weak waves under 3 ft, with poor winds and chop. The only exception is a brief moment on the 29th morning where the swell jumps to 5 ft from the N, but it's a short-period 6 second windswell with cross-shore winds, making it messy. Not worth the drive.
Now, hold on to your board, because the end of the forecast period gets interesting. On the 31st of August, we see a big shift. Swell comes in from the S at 5 ft, with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 726 (strong). That's a proper groundswell. The wind is onshore from the E, so it won't be perfect, but that's a lot of energy.
But the real standout, the one you need to circle on your calendar, is the 1st and 2nd of September. On the 1st, we get an 8 ft SSE swell with a very long period of 14 seconds. The combined energy rockets to 2609 (very strong). That's serious power. The wind is onshore, so it's a bit of a shame, but the size and period are undeniable.
Then, on the morning of the 2nd of September, it gets even bigger. 10 ft from the S, period 13 seconds, and a combined energy of 5720. That's an absolute beast. The wind is light and cross-on from the NNE, which is workable. However, the file clearly states the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is a beginner-friendly spot, and 10 ft surf with that kind of energy is only for experts. The 3rd of September morning is also 10 ft from the SSE, with a 12-second period and glassy conditions. Again, massive, but only for the brave.
So, what's the call? The best bet on offer, if you're a strong surfer, is the morning of the 2nd of September. The swell size (10 ft from the S), the long period (13 seconds), and the light cross-off wind make it the most powerful and cleanest window of the whole outlook. But be warned, it's a big, dangerous wave for this spot. For the average surfer, the Thursday morning of the 20th of August is your only safe, clean option in the next two weeks. The rest is a write-off.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sun night, fresh winds from the N by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 | E 8 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
232 | 300 | 265 | 63 | 59 | 41 | 78 | 75 | 81 | 88 | 98 | 88 | 93 | 85 | 113 | 101 | 131 | 96 | 161 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
232 | 300 | 265 | 63 | 59 | 41 | 78 | 75 | 81 | 88 | 98 | 88 | 93 | 85 | 113 | 101 | 131 | 96 | 161 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | E 11 | E 10 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
15 | 10 | 8 | 55 | 39 | 27 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 39 | 18 | 37 | 37 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | — | SSE 10 | E 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | E 13 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 8 | S 7 | S 18 | SSE 14 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 5 | S 17 | S 16 |
29 | — | 10 | 38 | 28 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 38 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | — | NE 4 | NNW 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | 6 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 10 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 281 | 38 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 282 | 38 | 60 | 418 | 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.











