Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, N swell with 173 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 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
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 – this is a tough stretch for Ruby Bay. We’ve got a long, quiet run ahead.
Gonna be a lot of flat days. From now through the 20th of August, there’s just nothing to get excited about. Tuesday the 18th has zero swell, cross-on breeze, and the water’s sitting at 53°F, which is about normal for this time of year. Glassy mornings on the 19th and 20th, but still no waves.
The first real blip shows up on the morning of Friday the 21st. A tiny 0.3 ft windswell from the north, with a very long period of 16 seconds, but the size is pathetic. Combined energy is a weak 5. It’s clean with a light offshore, but it's barely a ripple. A beginner might get a tiny float, but that's being generous.
We get a little more on Saturday the 22nd afternoon – 3 ft from the north-northwest, period a short 6 seconds, energy up to 43. Glassy conditions, so it’ll look pretty, but the swell is weak and inconsistent.
Sunday the 23rd has a strong offshore wind (12 mph), but the swell is a measly 0.3 ft. Not worth paddling out.
The second week doesn’t offer much redemption. A few small pulses. Tuesday the 25th afternoon has 4 ft from the northwest, 6-second period, energy at 67, and clean conditions. Wednesday the 26th afternoon gets 4 ft from the north-northwest, energy 97, but the wind is cross-on and messy. The best-looking swell arrives on Thursday the 27th morning – 5 ft from the north, 7-second period, energy hitting 198 (moderate), and it’s glassy. That’s the only surfable window in the whole outlook, but even then, the data says “poor surf conditions.” For a point break, that north swell is not the optimum direction, and the period is short, so it’ll be fat and weak.
Saturday the 29th morning has 4 ft from the north, 8-second period, energy 217, and it’s glassy. The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s your best bet, but it’s a low bar.
Honestly, for the next 16 days, Ruby Bay is a hard pass. The setup is too sheltered, too inconsistent, and the few pulses that come through are poor quality. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the 29th of August morning is the only one worth a look, but don’t expect much.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 5°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | NW 18 | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 14 | N 16 | NW 5 | N 15 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | N 8 | N 17 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 16 | NW 5 | NNW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 173 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | on | off | glassy | on | off | off | on | off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:54AM3.75m | 2:12PM3.65m | 2:35AM3.50m | 2:52PM3.45m | 3:25AM3.25m | 3:40PM3.24m | 4:28AM3.05m | 4:51PM3.08m | 5:47AM2.97m | 6:38PM3.06m | 7:06AM3.04m | 7:58PM3.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:14PM1.09m | 7:46AM1.17m | 7:51PM1.36m | 8:28AM1.40m | 8:40PM1.63m | 9:18AM1.61m | 9:59PM1.84m | 10:19AM1.77m | 11:37PM1.89m | 11:37AM1.83m | 00:53AM1.80m | 1:01PM1.75m | 1:49AM1.65m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 14 | NW 14 | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 15 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 7 | — | 173 | 99 | 60 | 30 | 18 | 23 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | — | N 14 | N 16 | N 16 | N 15 | — | — | N 19 | N 17 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 16 | — | NNW 15 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 7 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 40 | — | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 18 | NW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | NW 18 | NW 17 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 11 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | WNW 3 | — | WSW 2 | — | NW 5 | WSW 3 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | 43 | 362 | 3 | — | 1 | — | 20 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 88 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 14 | 7 | 125 | 115 | 129 | 83 | 83 | 83 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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