Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, N swell with 107 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ruby Bay this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Ruby Bay in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Well, folks, it’s Rusty here. I’ve stared at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s grim. There’s not a single good surf option on the board for the entire 16-day window. That’s a long, flat stretch. We’re talking a full fortnight of staring at a lake.
The only break on the map is Ruby Bay, and it’s a sheltered point that “rarely breaks” – and it won’t be breaking for us. The swell energy is basically zero through the whole period, with the combined energy reading at 0 for the vast majority of the time. We do see a tiny blip on Wednesday the 16th, where a 4ft, 7-second swell shows up, bumping the energy to 107 (moderate), but the wind is light from the NNW and it’s classed as “poor surf conditions” anyway. Glassy, but with that short period and the wrong direction for this spot, it’s not going to do anything. There’s another sniff of a 3ft on Saturday the 19th and Monday the 21st, but again, it’s weak and unimpressive.
The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is right around average for this time of year, so the only thing you’re feeling is the cold. Honestly, with this much wind and these tiny, poorly-directed swells, this setup looks way more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. We do get some strong offshore winds around the 19th and again on the 23rd, but with no swell to groom, it’s all just wind and no wave. A blank run like this is more normal for this area, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. The forecasts can always change, but right now, I’d be finding another hobby for the next couple of weeks.
Stay tuned, and I’ll keep watching. Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 19 | NW 18 | NNW 17 | NW 16 | N 4 | NW 17 | NNW 17 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NW 16 | NE 2 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 15 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | N 7 | N 7 | NW 16 | NNW 15 | N 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 10:02AM4.05m | 10:21PM4.27m | 10:42AM4.16m | 10:57PM4.28m | 11:19AM4.19m | 11:32PM4.22m | 11:53AM4.14m | 00:06AM4.09m | 12:27PM4.03m | 00:40AM3.90m | 1:00PM3.88m | 1:16AM3.67m | 1:33PM3.69m | 1:56AM3.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:59PM0.65m | 4:14AM0.47m | 4:34PM0.57m | 4:50AM0.49m | 5:06PM0.59m | 5:24AM0.58m | 5:36PM0.69m | 5:57AM0.73m | 6:05PM0.86m | 6:32AM0.93m | 6:37PM1.08m | 7:08AM1.14m | 7:12PM1.33m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | |  | |  |  |  | | | |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 7 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 19 | NW 18 | NNW 4 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 17 | NNW 17 | NNW 5 | ENE 3 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NNW 4 | — | NW 5 | NNW 4 | — | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NW 15 | NW 15 |
| kJ | 92 | 82 | 4 | 67 | 68 | 44 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 2 | — | 3 | 7 | — | 107 | 32 | 15 | 106 | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 6 | NNW 17 | NNW 5 | — | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 6 | WNW 4 | — | NW 11 | — | NW 16 | — | N 4 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 29 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 28 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | — | 61 | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | N 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 2 | SW 3 | N 4 | — | WSW 2 | — | — | — | NE 2 | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | NNW 15 | W 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 100 | — | — | — | 231 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 83 | 125 | 83 | 170 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 38 | 38 | 115 | 83 | 83 | 129 | 88 | 14 | 141 | 38 | 38 | 83 | 116 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ruby Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ruby Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ruby Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ruby 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 (Ruby 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 Ruby 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 Nelson - Tasman Bay? If you are looking for accommodation near Ruby Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Nelson - Tasman Bay, consider staying in Nelson which is 17 km (11 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Blenheim which is 80 km (50 miles) away
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