Surf Forecasts:
North wall surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SE swell with 567 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. 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 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks here are a bit of a mixed bag. There’s some punchy swell on the horizon, but we’re going to have to pick our moments to get it clean. Overall, the standout window looks to be around the middle of next week, with a few other smaller windows that could be worth a paddle.
First up, the only real option on the table is Northwall (North wall) . Water temp is sitting around 68°F, which is about normal for this time of year. Not much to get excited about there.
We’re starting out with a bit of a dud. For Friday the 14th and into Saturday the 15th, there’s surfable swell around 5ft, but the winds are cross-off at 12 mph and the period is short. It’s a bit of a mushy, marginal call. The energy is moderate, coming in at 446, but it’s just not doing much for the shape. Saturday afternoon turns to a cross-shore chop, and it’s not looking worth your time.
Sunday the 16th is more of the same – a touch bigger at 6ft, but still short period and cross-off winds in the morning. It’s clean but lacks the push. The energy is moderate at 418. By the afternoon, the cross-shore wind gets messy. Monday the 17th sees the swell jump to 7ft, but the wind comes onshore from the ESE, making it a choppy, blown-out mess. Not a day for the log, that’s for sure.
Now, here’s where things start to get interesting. Tuesday morning, the 18th, the wind drops right out to almost nothing from the SSW, going cross-off. The swell eases to 6ft from the SE with an 8-second period, and the energy is moderate at 491. It's clean, and this is our first real taste of what's possible. The afternoon turns onshore, so make the most of that morning session.
But the real standout is Wednesday morning, the 19th. The swell drops a touch to 4ft, but the period jumps to a very healthy 11 seconds. This is proper groundswell. The wind is light from the S, cross-off, and it’s glassy clean. The energy is moderate at 526. This is the best shape we’re going to see in this stretch. The longer period means more power and better lines. This is a definite dawn patrol.
Thursday the 20th has a smaller, clean morning option with 3ft swell and light cross-off winds, good for the log. But the afternoon turns onshore from the ENE. From Friday the 21st through Saturday the 22nd, it all fades out. Small, weak, and messy swells with onshore winds. Not worth more than a glance.
Now we get to the long-range stuff. Sunday the 23rd sees a bump in wind but not in quality. 5ft swell, but a fresh cross-shore breeze makes it lumpy. Monday the 24th has a longer period swell coming from the S, but the wind is cross-shore all day, so it’s not clean.
The big swell hits on Tuesday the 25th. We’re talking 7ft from the S with strong energy – 1121. But the wind is going to be cross-on from the SE, turning it into a choppy, powerful mess. This is one for the experts only, and even then, the conditions are against us. The swell hangs around through Wednesday the 26th at 5ft, but it’s still cross-on and not looking attractive.
The last real hope in this window is a glassy morning on Thursday the 27th. The wind drops to zero and the swell is 4ft from the S with a 10-second period. It’s clean, but the energy is only moderate (298). It might be small, but on a glassy day, you can make anything work.
After that, Friday the 28th has a clean morning with 5ft SSE swell and cross-off winds, a decent way to finish the run. But the weekend looks like it gets messy again with fresh cross-shore winds.
So, the plan is simple. Hit Wednesday morning the 19th hard – that’s your best bet for quality. The Tuesday morning the 18th is also worth an early paddle. Everything else is picking through the scraps. It’s not a classic fortnight, but there’s always a wave if you’re keen enough.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
413 | 253 | 200 | 188 | 459 | 321 | 249 | 537 | 441 | 477 | 452 | 378 | 274 | 258 | 414 | 441 | 268 | 112 | 102 | 99 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:37PM1.67m | 10:00AM1.32m | 10:14PM1.53m | 10:40AM1.31m | 10:50PM1.38m | 11:22AM1.29m | 11:23PM1.23m | 12:06PM1.27m | 11:56PM1.10m | 12:56PM1.24m | 00:33AM0.98m | 1:57PM1.23m | 1:23AM0.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:05AM0.13m | 3:59PM0.18m | 4:38AM0.17m | 4:43PM0.27m | 5:11AM0.22m | 5:27PM0.39m | 5:42AM0.28m | 6:16PM0.51m | 6:16AM0.35m | 7:14PM0.62m | 6:53AM0.42m | 8:32PM0.69m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 17 | S 8 | S 7 | E 13 | SE 11 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ENE 7 | SE 8 |
28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 59 | 93 | 17 | 4 | 79 | 274 | 258 | 414 | 441 | 268 | 112 | 102 | 99 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | SSE 19 | S 15 | S 20 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | E 10 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | S 14 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 8 | ENE 7 |
3 | 34 | 19 | 8 | 36 | 60 | 59 | 17 | 31 | 28 | 34 | 17 | 15 | 86 | 77 | 59 | 88 | 70 | 88 | 81 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 9 | N 8 | N 8 | E 16 | E 15 | ESE 8 | E 14 | S 15 | S 17 | SE 13 | ENE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | ESE 13 | S 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 50 | 7 | 17 | 33 | 127 | 35 | 20 | 17 | 43 | 11 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | — | — |
413 | 253 | 200 | 188 | 459 | 321 | 249 | 537 | 441 | 477 | 452 | 378 | 107 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 8 | 26 | 79 | 32 | 26 | 65 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 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.











