
Surf Forecasts:
North wall surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 3,737 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with NE 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 (Sep 16) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s 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 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for North wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, checking out the 16-day run for North Wall.
This one is a rollercoaster, and not the fun kind. There’s a huge pulse of swell mid-week, but it’s way too big and the wind’s no good. The first real window doesn’t open until Friday morning the 18th. Before that, Tuesday the 15th is a total loss – a puny 4ft NNE windswell with a short 5-second period and a fresh cross-onshore breeze wrecking it. Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th see the size jump hard, with swell heights hitting 8ft to 10ft, from the S to SSE. The period stretches to 8 to 10 seconds. The energy readings are huge – moderate to very strong (711 to 2093). That’s expert-only stuff, and the cross-off wind, while clean, won’t make it easy. The water temp is 69°, which is about average for the time of year.
So your only real standout in the first week is Friday morning, the 18th of September. We’ve got a clean 6ft swell from the SSE with a solid 9-second period and just a light cross-off breeze from the SSW. The combined energy is moderate at 478. It’s still a bit of size, but it’s not stupid big, and it’s clean. A good call if you can get out. That afternoon the wind swings onshore and it’s over.
After that, the door slams shut for a long stretch. From Saturday the 19th right through to Tuesday the 29th, it’s a frustrating, poor run. Most days have tiny swell, cross-onshore winds, and flat-looking energy readings. There are a couple of very brief glassy moments – like Sunday the 20th morning with 2ft and no wind, and Monday the 21st morning with a tiny 1ft but a very long 19-second period – but they only give ordinary, weak waves. That 1ft swell on the 21st is a classic long-period groundswell, which tends to be too straight for a beach/groyne spot, so no dice.
The only other flicker of hope is right at the very end, on Wednesday morning the 30th of September. It’s a 3ft easterly, 8-second period, with glassy conditions – zero wind, slight air. The energy is moderate at 247, and it’s labeled as ‘good surf conditions’. That’s a long way off, so keep it on the radar but don’t bet the farm.
Bottom line: if you’re paddling out, Friday the 18th morning is the clear pick of the month. The rest is a long, poor run of small, choppy, or blown-out slop.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue night, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 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) | NE 5 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 8 | S 11 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | S 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
43 | 707 | 1313 | 3737 | 2307 | 1663 | 1300 | 551 | 368 | 198 | 207 | 158 | 143 | 102 | 73 | 116 | 168 | 50 | 91 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:46PM1.13m | 11:27AM1.38m | 11:19PM1.01m | 12:12PM1.33m | 11:58PM0.91m | 1:07PM1.28m | 00:57AM0.82m | 2:15PM1.25m | 2:37AM0.78m | 3:31PM1.26m | 4:31AM0.83m | 4:35PM1.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:51AM0.32m | 5:55PM0.53m | 5:23AM0.39m | 6:53PM0.61m | 6:00AM0.46m | 8:09PM0.65m | 6:50AM0.53m | 9:50PM0.62m | 7:59AM0.58m | 10:59PM0.55m | 9:20AM0.58m | 11:41PM0.46m | |||||||
— | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | ENE 6 | E 13 | NE 13 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 8 | S 11 | S 9 | SSE 8 | N 4 |
43 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 970 | 551 | 368 | 198 | 207 | 158 | 143 | 102 | 73 | 116 | 57 | 21 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | E 14 | S 17 | — | — | NE 13 | E 12 | E 12 | S 19 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 20 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | S 11 |
18 | 4 | 6 | — | — | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 115 | 91 | 64 | 31 | 20 | 50 | 79 | 168 | 50 | 91 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | S 19 | S 19 | NE 12 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | NNE 4 | N 4 | E 8 | E 8 | NNE 4 | SSE 11 | E 8 |
3 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 6 | 61 | 53 | 51 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 40 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | NNW 2 | NNE 4 | — | — | NE 4 | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | N 4 |
10 | 707 | 1313 | 3737 | 2307 | 1663 | 1300 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | 4 | 14 | — | 5 | 25 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 281 | 1306 | 203 | 79 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 410 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










