Rainbow Bay surfForecast / QLD – Gold Coast / Australia

information circle48hr Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Saturday 16 May 2026 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Rainbow Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
24.4° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

How big are the waves at Rainbow Bay today?

The current surf forecast for Rainbow Bay at 7AM is: 1.6m 8s primary swell from a Southeast direction and 0.1m 8s secondary swell from a Northeast direction (forecast issued at 03:00am May 16). The wind direction is predicted to be offshore.

Time (AEST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (16 May)5ft (1.6m)8s
Afternoon (16 May)5.5ft (1.7m)8s
Evening (16 May)6ft (1.8m)9s

Table - waves today at Rainbow Bay. (Swell directed towards the surf break)


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 89mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
1 AM
4 AM
7 AM
10 AM
1 PM
4 PM
7 PM
10 PM
1 AM
4 AM
7 AM
10 AM
1 PM
4 PM
7 PM
10 PM
1 AM
4 AM
7 AM
10 AM
1 PM
4 PM
7 PM
10 PM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
0
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height MapHeight MapHeight Map
Height MapHeight MapHeight Map
Height MapHeight MapHeight Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
ESE
8
1.7
ESE
8
1.6
SE
8
1.6
SE
8
1.6
SE
8
1.7
ESE
8
1.7
ESE
9
1.9
ESE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.9
ESE
9
2
ESE
9
2
ESE
9
2
E
9
2.1
E
9
2.1
E
9
2.2
E
9
2.2
E
9
2.3
E
9
2.4
E
9
2.4
E
9
2.4
E
9
2.4
E
9
2.5
E
9
2.5
ENE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
330
339
363
363
363
383
454
548
561
633
673
641
675
731
723
788
786
880
963
963
971
961
1055
1126
Wind (km/h)
15
S
15
S
15
S
15
S
15
SSE
10
SE
10
SSE
5
SSE
5
SE
10
SSE
10
SSE
10
SE
10
E
10
E
10
E
10
ENE
10
ENE
10
ENE
10
ENE
15
ENE
20
NE
20
NE
25
NE
25
NE
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
7:20AM1.51m
7:51PM1.98m
8:08AM1.45m
8:37PM2.02m
8:56AM1.38m
9:24PM2.02m
Low Tide
1:29AM0.35m
1:17PM0.24m
2:20AM0.31m
1:58PM0.25m
3:12AM0.30m
2:41PM0.28m
light rain
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
light rain
light rain
thunderstorm
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:20
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:02
5:02
5:01
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
8
11
Temp °C
18
18
18
20
21
21
20
19
19
19
19
21
22
21
21
20
21
20
20
22
22
21
21
21
16
17
17
18
20
21
20
20
20
20
19
22
22
21
22
21
22
20
20
22
21
19
19
20
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
ESE
8
1.7
ESE
8
1.6
SE
8
1.6
SE
8
1.6
SE
8
1.7
ESE
8
1.7
ESE
9
1.9
ESE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.9
ESE
9
2
ESE
9
2
ESE
9
2
E
9
2.1
E
9
2.1
E
9
2.2
E
9
2.2
E
9
2.3
E
9
Energy kJ
330
339
363
363
363
383
454
548
561
633
673
641
675
731
723
788
786
880
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
9
0.1
NE
8
0.1
NE
8
0.1
NE
8
0.1
NE
8
0.1
NE
8
0.7
E
10
Energy kJ
3
3
3
3
3
3
102
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
15
0.1
NE
8
Energy kJ
4
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
E
9
2.4
E
9
2.4
E
9
2.4
E
9
2.5
E
9
2.5
ENE
9
Energy kJ
963
963
971
961
1055
1126
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
219
494
243
176
556
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
3
2
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
6
5
5
5
4
5
6
9
9
7
4
4
5
8
7
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

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