Surf Forecasts:
Rapid Bay surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, W swell with 364 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rapid Bay this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Rapid Bay in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rapid Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. I've gotta level with you – Rapid Bay is looking like a total write-off for the next 16 days. There's nothing on the table worth chasing.
From now through the 28th of September, it's flat or near flat. The biggest bump we see is 0.2ft most days, with the swell period under 8 seconds – that's not surf, that's a lake. The combined swell energy is pathetic, rarely hitting 50.
The wind is the main issue. It's mostly howling onshore or cross-shore at 30 km/h, just tearing up any tiny wave that might try to form. There's a window on the 17th where the wind goes glassy, but the swell is only 0.2ft – you'd be floating out there.
On the 19th, there's a pulse to 6ft, but the wind is cross-shore at 30 km/h, and the combined energy hits 205 (moderate). The wave comment says "poor surf conditions" – it'll be a choppy, lumpy mess. Not worth the effort.
Rapid Bay is an inconsistent, sheltered spot, and this stretch just proves it. Don't bother packing the board – wait for a change.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon night, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 22 | 30 | 91 | 32 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 19 | 205 | 0 | 312 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:28PM1.54m | 5:37AM1.74m | 5:47PM1.51m | 5:59AM1.85m | 6:07PM1.46m | 6:23AM1.89m | 6:25PM1.39m | 6:47AM1.86m | 6:41PM1.28m | 7:11AM1.77m | 6:52PM1.15m | 7:33AM1.62m | 6:48PM1.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:24PM0.24m | 11:51AM0.20m | 11:39PM0.23m | 12:18PM0.26m | 11:56PM0.25m | 12:46PM0.35m | 00:13AM0.29m | 1:13PM0.47m | 00:28AM0.35m | 1:42PM0.60m | 00:38AM0.43m | 2:14PM0.73m | 00:35AM0.52m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | — | SW 11 | S 13 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | S 18 | WNW 4 | W 6 | S 13 | N 6 | S 14 |
| kJ | 4 | — | 5 | 156 | 32 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 5 | — | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | W 8 | S 16 | S 14 | — | S 13 | S 15 |
| kJ | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | — | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | — | 4 | 104 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | S 15 | — | SSW 18 | — | W 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 3 | 4 | — | 62 | — | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 63 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | WSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 3 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | SE 3 | — | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | N 4 | N 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 |
| kJ | 23 | 22 | 30 | 91 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 13 | 7 | 19 | 205 | 158 | 312 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 274 | 40 | 436 | 42 | 124 | 91 | 124 | 91 | 124 | 119 | 46 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 44 | 614 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Adelaide | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Rapid 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.
Information about the Rapid Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rapid Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rapid Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rapid 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 (Rapid 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 Rapid 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 Adelaide? If you are looking for accommodation near Rapid Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Adelaide, consider staying in Rapid Bay which is 2 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Adelaide where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Kingscote which is 51 km (32 miles) away, Morphett Vale, Adelaide and Port Adelaide.
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