Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, N swell with 212 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ruby Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ruby Bay in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you about Ruby Bay. It's a point, it's sheltered, and honestly, it rarely breaks. For the next 16 days, there's not much to get excited about. The water temp is sitting at 53°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We start off with a long gap. From now through Wednesday, August 20th, there's nothing doing. Save your energy.
The first tiny glimmer shows up on Thursday morning, August 21st. There's a glassy calm with a 0.3ft swell from the north, but the period is a massive 16 seconds. That's a very long period groundswell, which for a sheltered spot like this just doesn't have the push to wrap in. It's a non-event, really.
Friday, August 22nd, offers a bit more of the same – a 0.3ft north swell with a super long 20-second period. It’s clean with light offshore winds, but it's barely a ripple. Combined energy is a pitiful 7, which is about as weak as it gets.
The most noteworthy surf in the whole outlook, and I say this with a heavy heart, is on the morning of Thursday, August 13th. That morning we saw a pulse of 5ft swell from the north with a 7-second period, which is a short-period windswell. The combined energy was a moderate 212, and the wind was glassy calm. It’s the best on offer, but even then, the data calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." For a beginner spot, that 5ft might be a little much, but it’s the closest we get to a wave.
Other than that Thursday morning, everything else is flat, tiny, or poor. There’s a bump on Tuesday, August 25th, with a 3ft north-northwest swell and a 6-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore, making it messy.
Look, Ruby Bay is a break that's rarely consistent. When the forecasts show a blank run like this, it’s just the way it is here. Don't hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 2°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 8 | N 7 | NE 5 | NE 4 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NW 18 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | NNW 15 | NE 4 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 10 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 92 | 212 | 135 | 51 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | off | off | on | off | cross-off | glassy | off | glassy | on | off |
High Tide | 9:19PM4.01m | 9:29AM3.89m | 10:04PM4.25m | 10:20AM4.07m | 10:44PM4.38m | 11:05AM4.18m | 11:23PM4.39m | 11:46AM4.21m | 00:01AM4.32m | 12:24PM4.15m | 00:38AM4.17m | 1:00PM4.02m | 1:15AM3.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:06AM0.82m | 3:34PM0.87m | 3:54AM0.61m | 4:21PM0.69m | 4:37AM0.49m | 5:01PM0.60m | 5:17AM0.48m | 5:37PM0.60m | 5:54AM0.57m | 6:10PM0.70m | 6:30AM0.73m | 6:41PM0.86m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — |
 | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 5 |
Feels °C | 10 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | N 5 | N 8 | NNW 14 | — | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NW 18 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | ENE 3 | NNW 15 | NNW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 |
| kJ | 10 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 92 | 21 | — | 51 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 1 | 23 | 23 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 7 | N 7 | N 13 | NW 19 | NW 18 | NW 19 | NNW 11 | NW 9 | N 8 | NW 8 | N 7 | NW 7 | — | NNW 16 | — | NE 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 25 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 19 | — | N 10 | N 8 | — | — | — | NW 18 | NW 16 | NW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 7 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 11 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 5 | NE 4 | — | N 7 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SSW 2 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | 212 | 135 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 129 | 88 | 83 | 83 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 38 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 38 | 83 | 88 | 83 |
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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