Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, N swell with 106 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 0.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right now, Ruby Bay is looking mighty quiet. To be honest, there’s not a whole lot to get excited about in this 16-day window. The energy just isn’t there, and we’ve got a long stretch of flat, small, and poor conditions ahead.
We start off this Sunday, the 13th, with nothing doing. It’s clean and glassy in the morning, but there’s no swell to speak of. The same story runs right through the middle of the week – tiny dribbles on Wednesday and Thursday, with the swell barely scratching the 3ft on Thursday morning, coming from the NNW at a short 5-second period. The combined energy is weak, only reaching 56. That’s not surf, that’s just a ripple.
Friday the 18th offers a slight bump in the afternoon, with 3ft of windswell from the north, and the energy climbing to a moderate 106. But the period is still a short 9 seconds, and the northeasterly wind is on it, so it’s going to be lumpy and uninviting. Not worth paddling out for.
The weekend stays flat, and we hit another real blank stretch from Sunday the 20th right through to Thursday the 25th. Days of glassy conditions but absolutely no swell. It’s a frustrating run.
There is a little pulse trying to push in on Monday the 21st afternoon, with a 4ft NNW swell and some moderate offshore wind from the WSW. The energy jumps to 75, but the period is still only 5 seconds – that’s pure wind chop, not a groundswell. For a sheltered point like Ruby Bay, it’s just not going to break with any quality.
The final day in the window, Monday the 28th, shows a bit more hope. We see a 4ft swell from the NW, with a period of 5 seconds and 60 energy, and the wind is dead calm and glassy in the afternoon. That would make for a clean surface, but with that short period and this break’s sheltered nature, it’s really just a bump. Not a standout.
So realistically, there are no good surf options in this whole 16-day forecast. Ruby Bay is a sheltered point that rarely breaks anyway, and with this run of flatness, it’s not going to happen. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is right about average for this time of year, so at least a wetsuit will feel normal. But the boards are staying in the car. It’s a dry spell, plain and simple.
Stay patient.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 17 | NE 2 | NNW 16 | NW 16 | N 5 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 15 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | N 7 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 25 | 51 | 71 | 88 | 55 | 106 | 51 | 21 | 5 | 1 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | off | glassy | on | off | off | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | on | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 2:10PM3.48m | 2:45AM3.16m | 2:53PM3.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:47AM1.37m | 7:57PM1.58m | 8:35AM1.59m | 9:04PM1.80m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 11 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 17 | NNW 17 | ENE 3 | NW 16 | NW 16 | NW 15 | NW 15 | N 15 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | NW 11 | N 5 | NW 16 | N 7 | N 9 | NNW 16 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 5 | NW 4 |
| kJ | 28 | 28 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 7 | — | 5 | 25 | 10 | 88 | 55 | 24 | 51 | 21 | 2 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 16 | NW 5 | N 5 | NW 4 | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | — | NW 11 | — | NW 17 | NNW 16 | — | NW 16 | NW 15 | N 8 | NW 17 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 12 | 25 | — | 9 | 9 | 5 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 11 | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 16 | — | — | ESE 3 | — | — | — | NW 15 | N 7 |
| kJ | 18 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | NE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 2 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | N 6 | SE 3 | — | N 9 | — | WSW 3 | — | WSW 2 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 30 | 39 | 25 | 51 | 71 | 3 | — | 106 | — | 2 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 125 | 38 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 133 | 88 | 88 | 116 | 88 | 14 | 88 | 14 | 14 | 129 | 14 | 83 | 125 | 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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