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Surf Forecasts:

Rainbow Bay surfForecast / QLD – Gold Coast / Australia

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 pm Monday 19 Jan 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
26.2° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rainbow Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 20) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rainbow Bay in the next 12 days are 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 21) 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jan 23) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Tue 20th Jan)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Best Surf 7AM (Wed 21st Jan)7.5ft (2.3m) 11s
Most Powerful 7AM (Wed 21st Jan)7.5ft (2.3m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat night).

Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Mon
26
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
3
2
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.1
SSE
1.7
SSE
2.1
SSE
2
SSE
2.1
SE
2.1
SE
1.8
SE
1.6
SE
1.3
SE
1
SE
2.1
SSE
1.9
SSE
1.6
SE
0.8
S
0.8
SE
0.9
SSE
0.8
SE
1
SSE
1.1
SE
1.1
SE
0.9
SE
Period(s) (?)88781110101010977789810910915
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)53335745544797291073553034117041936221389114127115141225203370
Wind
(km/h)
25
S
25
SSE
30
SSE
20
S
20
S
20
ESE
5
W
20
NNW
25
N
15
NNW
25
S
30
SSE
20
SSE
15
SE
10
ESE
5
E
10
NE
15
ENE
5
N
15
NNE
20
NNE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offoffoffoffoffcross-
off		cross-
off		ononcross-
on		offcross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		glasscross-
on		cross-
on		glassonon
High Tide
/ height (m)
9:02AM
1.89
9:20PM
1.31
9:36AM
1.86
9:57PM
1.33
10:11AM
1.80
10:37PM
1.36
10:49AM
1.71
11:22PM
1.38
11:32AM
1.59
12:16AM
1.40
12:22PM
1.46
1:19AM
1.43
1:23PM
1.32
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:22AM
0.37
3:38PM
0.38
3:00AM
0.37
4:10PM
0.36
3:39AM
0.39
4:43PM
0.35
4:23AM
0.42
5:19PM
0.35
5:13AM
0.47
6:01PM
0.36
6:13AM
0.53
6:50PM
0.38
7:29AM
0.59
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Mon
26
Sunrise-5:05--5:07--5:07--5:09--5:09--5:09--5:11-
Sunset--6:45--6:45--6:45--6:45--6:45--6:44--6:44
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
-11---------1--------
Temp. °C232324232424222729252526242424232424232625
Feels °C (?)192121192222212527252424232323232424242624
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Latest Updates

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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Rainbow Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Rainbow Bay at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Rainbow Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Rainbow Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Rainbow Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rainbow 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 (Rainbow 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 Rainbow 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.

Rainbow Bay is 6 km (4 miles) from Banora Point. If you plan a holiday in Gold Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Banora Point. Banora Point has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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