
Surf Forecasts:
Pennington Bay surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, SSW swell with 6,406 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pennington Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Pennington Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pennington Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pennington Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and get to what matters for Pennington Bay over the next couple of weeks.
The long and short of it is this: we’ve got a slow, messy start, then a big, powerful pulse that’s going to be too much for most of us, and then a couple of proper gems hidden in the second week. Don’t get too excited about the first few days, but do keep your eyes peeled for the middle of next week.
The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need to dig out the thickest suit yet.
We kick things off on Wednesday the 5th with small, weak surf. The swell is from the south, but it’s only pushing 0.8m in the morning, maybe 1.0m by the afternoon. Wind is cross-off, which keeps it tidy, but the energy is just not there. It’s a grovel, not a glory day.
Thursday the 6th is a tale of two halves. The morning is poor – cross-on wind, choppy, not worth the paddle. But the afternoon is a different story. The wind dies to glass, and the swell bumps up to 1.2m from the SSW. It’s clean, it’s fun, and it’s your first proper chance to get a wave without a fight.
Friday the 7th is where it starts to get real. The swell pushes up to 2-1.8m from the SSW, and we’ve got a solid offshore breeze from the NNE. The energy is building big time – 1723 in the morning, 2567 in the afternoon. This is powerful, clean surf for the experienced crew. The period is long, around 15-17 seconds, so there’s plenty of push. This is one of the best windows we’ll see.
Saturday the 8th is a frustrating one. Swell is still solid at 1.5m, but the wind is screaming from the north at 35-40 km/h. It’s offshore, so it’s clean, but it’s so strong you’ll be fighting just to get out the back. Not a fun day.
Sunday the 9th is a straight-up write-off. Rain, lumpy cross-onshore wind, and a messy surf. Don’t bother.
Monday the 10th is big, but ugly. Swell hits 3.0m, and the energy is huge at 4654. But the wind is cross-shore and making it a chop-fest. It’s a lot of power with nowhere to go. Not for the faint of heart.
Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th are just poor. Strong west winds, lumpy conditions, and big, messy swell. The energy readings are enormous, but it’s all for nothing. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.
From Thursday the 13th through Saturday the 15th, the swell is just too big for this spot. We’re looking at 3.0m to 4.5m of south swell. The wind might be okay at times, but the waves will be a washing machine. It’s a pass.
Sunday the 16th is a bit of a reprieve. The swell drops to a more manageable 2-1.7m, and we get a glassy afternoon. It’s clean and there’s energy in the water. A good chance to get back into it.
Then we get to the real highlights. Monday the 17th is looking fantastic. Clean 1.3m of SSW swell with a nice offshore breeze from the north. It’s clean, consistent, and the energy is around 905-939. It’s not huge, but it’s perfect for a fun session.
But the crown jewel is Wednesday the 19th. The wind is forecast to be completely calm in the morning, leaving it dead glassy. The swell is a solid 2.3m from the south with a long 17-second period, and the energy is strong at 3052. This is as good as it gets. The afternoon is also looking prime, with a light cross-off breeze and clean 2.1m waves. This is the one to save your energy for. It’s a long-range call, so it’s promising but not set in stone, but if it comes together, it’ll be a day to remember.
After that, the 20th looks smaller and cleaner, but nothing that will stand out.
So, the plan is simple: skip the messy stuff this weekend, get a few fun ones on Thursday and Friday, but put all your eggs in the basket for Monday the 17th and especially Wednesday the 19th. That’s where the magic is.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 19 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
465 | 627 | 562 | 516 | 778 | 1540 | 1581 | 1790 | 1249 | 1131 | 991 | 724 | 763 | 849 | 5336 | 4654 | 3336 | 1622 | 1570 | 2021 | 5747 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:26PM0.95m | 8:08AM1.37m | 7:30PM0.77m | 8:46AM1.34m | 9:37AM1.28m | 11:10AM1.22m | 2:14PM1.24m | 3:22PM1.31m | |||||||||||||
Low Tide | 1:57PM0.54m | 1:03AM0.44m | 2:53PM0.61m | 00:58AM0.44m | 00:30AM0.42m | 11:46PM0.35m | 11:16PM0.28m | 11:11PM0.24m | 11:16PM0.25m | ||||||||||||
7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | NNW 5 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | — |
107 | 627 | 562 | 516 | 778 | 1540 | 1581 | 1790 | 1249 | 1131 | 991 | 724 | 35 | 849 | — | 4654 | 3336 | 1622 | 1570 | 2021 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | SW 25 | SSW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 19 | — |
465 | 57 | 28 | 26 | 48 | 18 | 128 | 768 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 25 | 639 | — | — | — | — | — | 610 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SSW 12 | WSW 6 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SW 6 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | SSW 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
206 | 51 | 7 | 5 | 37 | 5 | 14 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 2 | N 3 | NNW 3 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | SSW 16 | SW 6 | SSW 19 | — | WNW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | SSW 16 |
1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | — | — | — | 6 | 24 | 57 | 34 | 129 | 763 | 123 | 5336 | — | 8 | 119 | 11 | 59 | 5747 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 54 | 59 | 57 | 96 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 54 | 81 | 625 | 211 | 83 | 363 | 629 | 96 | 87 | 439 | 939 | 1097 | 1097 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kangaroo Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pennington Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pennington Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pennington Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pennington Bay 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 (Pennington Bay) 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 Pennington Bay 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Kangaroo Island? If you are looking for accommodation near Pennington Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Kangaroo Island, consider staying in Kingscote which is 25 km (16 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Rapid Bay which is 54 km (34 miles) away











