
Surf Forecasts:
The Pass surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 11s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 4,033 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Pass this week:
The surf forecast for The Pass over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Pass in the next 16 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Fri 18th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Pass over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s look at what we’ve got for The Pass.
The overall pattern is a real mixed bag. We start with some decent, clean waves this weekend, but then a long, flat spell hits through the middle of next week. The real standout, the one to keep an eye on, is the swell that’s due to arrive later in the second week.
This weekend is where it’s at. Saturday afternoon (September 12th) you’ve got a solid 5ft swell rolling in from the SE with a moderate 12 mph offshore wind. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is about average for the time of year, so no drama there. The water’s clean, and the combined swell energy is a solid moderate 367. The Pass is a consistent point break, and with the offshore wind, it’ll be holding up nicely.
Sunday morning (September 13th) is the pick of the first week. The swell drops a touch to 4ft, but the wind eases to a light 6 mph offshore, and the period stretches out to 10 seconds. The energy jumps to 497. The conditions are described as clean, and for a point break like The Pass, this extra period means the waves will be shaping up nicely, with longer waits between sets. It’ll be a pleasure to paddle out. Sunday afternoon stays clean with a 4ft SE swell and light cross-off wind.
Then things get poor. Monday (14th) starts glassy with a small 3ft swell, but the energy drops to 183. The afternoon turns into a cross-shore mess. From Tuesday (15th) right through until Thursday (17th) morning, it’s flat, weak, and mostly choppy. That’s a solid gap of a few days with nothing worth paddling for.
Now, the big talk is what’s coming on Thursday the 17th. A massive pulse of swell hits Thursday morning with a 13ft SE swell. The combined energy is a very strong 2987. This is real-deal, expert-only territory. It’s also a short period of 10 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and powerful. The wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-off from the south, keeping it clean but heavy. This is for experienced chargers only. The swell hangs on through Friday (18th) with 8ft dropping to 6ft in the afternoon. Friday afternoon actually looks very good: 6ft from the SE with a 9 mph offshore breeze, period climbs to 11 seconds, and the energy is a strong 766. That’s your other standout.
The following week from the 19th onwards drops back into smaller, weaker swell with poor wind, mostly cross-shore or onshore. There’s a tiny pulse of long-period groundswell on the 23rd (Wednesday), but it’s barely 1ft, so forget it. The very last day, Sunday the 27th, shows clean 4ft waves with an offshore breeze, but it’s low energy (144) and nothing to get excited about.
So to sum it up: the best waves are this Sunday morning (13th) for clean, user-friendly fun, and then mark your calendar for Friday afternoon (18th) for the best combo of size, wind, and period. The big Thursday swell is for the brave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue night, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Wed afternoon, light winds from the E by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | E 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
210 | 328 | 235 | 188 | 161 | 118 | 97 | 64 | 62 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 3204 | 2251 | 2766 | 1947 | 430 | 930 | 1040 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:03AM1.46m | 9:12PM1.44m | 9:41AM1.46m | 9:46PM1.29m | 10:20AM1.43m | 10:20PM1.14m | 11:03AM1.36m | 10:58PM1.00m | 11:54AM1.29m | 11:46PM0.89m | 12:58PM1.22m | 1:01AM0.81m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:54AM0.02m | 3:07PM0.12m | 3:23AM0.07m | 3:50PM0.21m | 3:53AM0.13m | 4:34PM0.32m | 4:24AM0.21m | 5:24PM0.43m | 4:59AM0.30m | 6:26PM0.52m | 5:44AM0.39m | 7:51PM0.57m | |||||||
— | 5:47 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | ENE 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | E 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | S 19 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 12 |
210 | 328 | 235 | 188 | 161 | 118 | 28 | 64 | 56 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 430 | 930 | 1040 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 18 | SSE 20 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | ENE 5 | E 10 | SSE 11 | E 6 | NE 12 | SSE 10 | NNE 5 | S 17 | — | — | — | E 12 | E 12 | S 10 | S 10 |
110 | 129 | 65 | 26 | 15 | 7 | 97 | 16 | 5 | 18 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 318 | 184 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 13 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 12 | E 10 | E 11 | E 15 | ESE 6 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | NE 16 | N 16 | NE 15 | S 18 |
13 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 5 | 9 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | NNW 3 | N 3 | NE 5 | NNW 4 | S 7 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 10 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | 5 | 62 | 26 | 417 | 1314 | 3204 | 2251 | 2766 | 1947 | 687 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 1 | 27 | 729 | 6 | 256 | 1331 | 800 | 2 | 274 | 53 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Pass Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Pass provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Pass can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Pass 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 (The Pass) 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 The Pass 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.
The Pass is 26 km (16 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










