Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 6s period, NNE swell with 10 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 0.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. Rusty here.
Honestly mate, the next 16 days at Ruby Bay are a tough watch. We’ve got a long quiet spell kicking off, with practically nothing on offer for over a week. The first bit of real movement doesn’t show until late in the second week, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about. This is one of those stretches where the bay lives up to its "rarely breaks" reputation – a blank run like this is pretty normal for the area.
Looking at the start, from Thursday the 13th of August through to around Monday the 25th, it’s dead. Tiny dribbles of energy here and there, but nothing that’d get you out of bed. The water temp is sitting at 52°F, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year – you’ll feel that bite.
Anyway, the only real window to consider comes right at the tail end of the outlook. Tuesday the 25th of August afternoon sees a small bump in swell, with 4ft from the north, and a period of 9 seconds. Combined swell energy goes to 192 (moderate). The wind is cross-offshore from the west at 9 mph, keeping things clean. It’s a point break, so it’s sheltered and might just handle that north swell okay, but the size is small and conditions are marginal. Wednesday the 26th morning has a bit of leftover energy, 3ft from the north-northeast at 8 seconds, with glassy conditions – clean but weak. Then on Thursday the 27th, nothing. Friday the 28th afternoon shows a little more life: 4ft from the north, 7-second period, combined energy at 116 (moderate), and glassy wind. It’s still small, and with the break being so inconsistent, you’d be lucky to find a ride.
Don’t expect much. If you’re desperate, the 28th afternoon is the best of a very quiet bunch. Keep an eye on forecasts, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 2°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | N 5 | NW 18 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | NE 5 | NNW 16 | NE 4 | NNW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 14 | NW 14 | N 14 | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | glassy | on | off | off | on | off | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 1:36PM3.85m | 1:54AM3.75m | 2:12PM3.65m | 2:35AM3.50m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:37AM0.49m | 5:01PM0.60m | 5:17AM0.48m | 5:37PM0.60m | 5:54AM0.57m | 6:10PM0.70m | 6:30AM0.73m | 6:41PM0.86m | 7:07AM0.95m | 7:14PM1.09m | 7:46AM1.17m | 7:51PM1.36m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 8 |
Feels °C | 10 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 5 | NNW 8 | NW 18 | NNW 17 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | NNW 16 | NNW 15 | NNW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 15 | NW 14 | NW 14 | — | NW 17 | NW 16 | NW 16 |
| kJ | 18 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | 11 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 11 | NNW 9 | — | N 8 | N 7 | — | NE 5 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | N 14 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 11 | 8 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 18 | NW 16 | NW 18 | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 12 | 11 | 13 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 83 | 38 | 38 | 83 | 83 | 88 | 85 | 83 | 38 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 169 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Nelson - Tasman Bay | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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 Ruby 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 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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