Surf Forecasts:
Ruby Bay surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, N swell with 274 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s 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 (Jul 30) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 7s 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ruby Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’.
Honestly, this stretch is a tough one for Ruby Bay. We’re looking at a 16-day window where the surf is pretty much flat or miserable for a paddler. The outlook is grim, and it's going to be a long wait for anything that even gets you out of the car.
The first real chance of a wave shows up on the morning of Thursday, July 30th, with a tiny 2ft swell from the north, but it’s got next to no energy (37). The water is a bit colder than normal at 53°F, but the glassy conditions make it about the only time you could even sit on a board. Honestly, it’s poor surf, but it’s the most you’ll see.
After that, we hit a huge gap. From Friday, July 31st, right through to the morning of Wednesday, August 6th, there’s just nothing. Days of clean offshore winds but zero surf. It’s just a cruel tease.
The best we get is on the morning of Thursday, August 6th. A 2ft north swell with a period of 8 seconds and some moderate energy (63). The wind is offshore from the SSW, so it’ll be clean. For a spot that rarely breaks, this is about as good as it’s going to get. But let’s be real, 2ft is just a dribble.
The swell is never big enough to worry about beginners or experts. There’s simply no swell to speak of. The combined energy readings are all well under 100 (weak), so there’s no power in the water. For a sheltered point like Ruby Bay, it’s just a waiting game.
Given the lack of swell and the constant poor surf conditions, a setup like this looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. But for us, it’s a blank run. That’s the reality for this area when the windows don’t line up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 1°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | N 6 | NW 16 | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | N 9 | NW 14 | NNW 14 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NW 11 | N 3 | NW 19 | NW 18 | NW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 46 | 31 | 75 | 172 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | on | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:44PM3.76m | 9:55AM3.59m | 10:19PM3.89m | 10:33AM3.72m | 10:53PM4.00m | 11:11AM3.81m | 11:26PM4.08m | 11:48AM3.84m | 00:00AM4.12m | 12:25PM3.84m | 00:35AM4.10m | 1:02PM3.81m | 1:11AM4.02m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:15PM1.37m | 3:29AM1.31m | 3:58PM1.17m | 4:03AM1.18m | 4:34PM0.99m | 4:37AM1.06m | 5:07PM0.85m | 5:11AM0.95m | 5:38PM0.78m | 5:47AM0.88m | 6:10PM0.79m | 6:22AM0.86m | 6:42PM0.87m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 8 |
Feels °C | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 6 | — | NW 15 | N 5 | N 6 | — | N 7 | — | NNW 9 | NNW 15 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | N 6 | — | N 3 | NW 19 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | 9 | 19 | 31 | — | 172 | — | 49 | 191 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 15 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 11 | NW 11 | — | NW 4 | NW 14 | — | N 19 | — | NNW 16 | N 8 | NW 14 | NNW 14 | NW 12 | — | NW 11 | NW 21 | — | NW 18 | NW 18 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 5 | — | 3 | 8 | — | 7 | — | 25 | 41 | 54 | 19 | 5 | — | 5 | 18 | — | 13 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 16 | — | NW 14 | N 18 | — | N 16 | — | — | N 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | NW 9 | W 8 | — | NW 8 | — | NW 10 |
| kJ | — | — | 10 | — | 8 | 6 | — | 5 | — | — | 2 | 7 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | — | N 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | — | SW 3 | SSW 3 | — | SSW 2 | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 2 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 46 | — | 75 | 417 | 211 | 118 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 14 | 83 | 132 | 7 | 129 | 125 | 14 | 38 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 134 |
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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