Surf Forecasts:
Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with 410 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sawtell-The Island this week:
The surf forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sawtell-The Island in the next 16 days are 1.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk waves. We've got a slow period ahead, folks. The swell is weak and it's gonna stay that way for a good week and a half. From Tuesday the 18th through to Monday the 31st of August, it's mostly small and messy. The energy in the water is weak, mostly under 150. There will be a few clean, glassy mornings like Wednesday the 19th and Saturday the 22nd, but you'll be fighting for anything worth paddling for. It's a proper flat spell, so don't get your hopes up.
But hold on, because September is coming in with a roar. The first real swell of the window hits on Tuesday the 1st. This is the one to watch. The swell jumps to 7ft with a period of 11 seconds, and the energy is strong, reading 1530. Wind will be from the SSE at 6 mph, creating some cross-shore chop. This is serious size, so only the advanced crew should be out. It’s a south swell, which isn't perfect for Sawtell-The Island (NSW), but there will be plenty of water moving.
The following Wednesday it's a bit smaller, but still solid. Expect 6ft on Wednesday morning with a cross-offshore wind from the south at 12 mph. That wind will groom it into better shape, and the energy is still moderate at 587. It won't have the raw power of the day before, but it'll be more user-friendly. It's a long way off though, so call it a promising but not locked-in forecast.
Your best bet during the flat spell is Friday the 29th of August. It’s only 2ft, but the E swell with a 9-second period will be clean, and the Saturday morning looks glassy with a light S breeze. It’s tiny, but it’ll be the cleanest surf we'll see for a while.
The standout is the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September. 7ft of south swell at 11 seconds, with that big energy number. It’s going to be powerful and a bit lumpy. Save that one for the experienced surfers.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | NE 6 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 318 | 193 | 286 | 171 | 365 | 208 | 128 | 128 | 94 | 61 | 58 | 62 | 23 | 24 | 53 | 47 | 44 | 41 | 59 | 122 | 96 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:59AM1.31m | 11:54PM1.08m | 12:50PM1.27m | 00:43AM0.94m | 1:50PM1.24m | 1:48AM0.84m | 2:58PM1.23m | 3:13AM0.80m | 4:06PM1.26m | 4:32AM0.82m | 5:04PM1.33m | 5:30AM0.88m | 5:51PM1.41m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:08PM0.41m | 6:03AM0.27m | 7:12PM0.50m | 6:45AM0.35m | 8:32PM0.54m | 7:40AM0.41m | 10:01PM0.53m | 8:51AM0.44m | 11:11PM0.47m | 10:03AM0.42m | 11:59PM0.39m | 11:03AM0.36m | 00:37AM0.31m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | SSE 10 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 318 | 193 | 286 | 171 | 365 | 208 | 128 | 128 | 94 | 61 | 17 | 32 | 23 | 24 | 53 | 47 | 44 | 41 | 59 | 35 | 96 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 6 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 5 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 10 | SSE 11 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 43 | 70 | 107 | 112 | 44 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 27 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ESE 14 | S 11 | S 15 | S 10 | S 8 | NE 9 | — | SSE 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 7 | S 3 | S 3 | SSE 16 | S 6 | S 18 | S 16 |
| kJ | 15 | 36 | 57 | 4 | 29 | 28 | 3 | — | 24 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNW 2 | NNW 3 | NE 6 | NE 5 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | NNE 5 | NE 8 | N 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 58 | 62 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 29 | 122 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 200 | 7 | 7 | 137 | 0 | 16 | 444 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 390 | 16 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Sawtell-The Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Sawtell-The Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Sawtell-The Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sawtell-The Island 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 (Sawtell-The Island) 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 Sawtell-The Island 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 Port Macquarie? If you are looking for accommodation near Sawtell-The Island, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Port Macquarie, consider staying in Coffs Harbour which is 9 km (6 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in South Grafton which is 62 km (39 miles) away
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