Surf Forecasts:
The Pass surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, SSE swell with 522 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with ENE 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Pass in the next 16 days are 1.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Pass over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ out at The Pass. It's been a real mixed bag, some days looking like a total write-off, but there are a few windows where this spot could turn it on. We gotta wade through some average stuff first, though. The combined swell energy numbers give us a clue, and while there are a few low-energy days, we do get a spike later.
The overall pattern: We start off with tiny, weak swell and funky wind that makes it barely worth paddling out. Monday the 24th has 2ft to 3ft swell, but it's coming from the SSE and ENE – not really the ideal ENE direction this point loves – and the cross-off wind isn’t doing it any favours. Combined energy is only 99 to 149, so it's weak. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary.
Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th are basically a total loss. The wind swings onshore, the swell stays a weak 3ft to 4ft, and they’re calling it poor surf conditions with a score that says don’t bother. The combined energy climbs a bit to 160, but the period is a short, junky 7-8 seconds. Not worth it.
Thursday the 27th sees a small bump Thursday afternoon: 5ft swell from the SSE, but still a short 7-second period. Combined energy jumps to 364, which is moderate, but it’s just a marginal call. Wind stays cross-off, but that short period means the waves will be fat and weak.
Friday the 28th is a step in the right direction. Morning has 3ft of SSE swell with a 7-second period and clean conditions (188 energy), and then Friday afternoon gets real interesting: the wind swings offshore from the SE – clean glassy conditions – with 3ft of SSE swell at 8 seconds. Combined energy hits 214. Surfable and clean, but still small.
The weekend, the 29th and 30th, is where it starts to look a bit more promising. Saturday is still average, but then Sunday the 30th afternoon is a true standout. We get a jump to 5ft from the SE with a 9-second period, light offshore wind, and the combined energy blasts up to 845 – that’s strong wave energy. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions” and the rating backs it up. This is the best session in the run. The Pass loves that east-southeast groundswell with a light offshore, so the lines should be clean and punchy. If you can get out Sunday afternoon, that’s the one. Crowds are "often" here, so expect company.
Monday the 31st drops back a bit, and Tuesday September 1st offers another nice little window. Tuesday morning is glassy with 5ft from the east (392 energy), and Tuesday afternoon stays clean with 5ft (401 energy). That’s two solid sessions, though not quite as strong as Sunday.
Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd hold some fun, clean waves in the 4ft to 4ft range, with good energy (340 on Thursday arvo) and offshore or glassy wind. Good for the skills.
Then it turns ugly again from Friday September 4th all the way through Monday September 7th. Cross-on wind, lumpy, choppy, poor conditions. Combined energy drops as low as 44. That’s a real dry spell of about 4 days.
Finally, Tuesday September 8th afternoon we get a late reward: 5ft from the SSE with a 7-second period, clean cross-off wind, and 286 energy. The wave state is clean again, so that could be a sneaky good session to finish the 16-day run.
Water temp: Sitting at 68°F with the anomaly negative at -0.9°F, so it’s pretty much bang on average for this time of year in the water. No surprises there.
In short: The Pass has a few true standouts. Sunday August 30th afternoon is the best of the bunch by a long shot – bigger swell, clean offshore, and strong energy. Tuesday September 1st is also a solid runner-up for some clean rides. Don’t bother with the first few days or that rough stretch in early September. Keep an eye on that Sunday arvo session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
99 | 131 | 125 | 175 | 153 | 99 | 117 | 83 | 90 | 116 | 130 | 79 | 67 | 214 | 173 | 133 | 133 | 164 | 315 | 188 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 5:54PM1.45m | 6:06AM0.97m | 6:31PM1.55m | 6:44AM1.05m | 7:04PM1.62m | 7:18AM1.13m | 7:36PM1.67m | 7:52AM1.21m | 8:08PM1.69m | 8:27AM1.28m | 8:40PM1.65m | 9:03AM1.34m | 9:13PM1.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:36AM0.32m | 11:49AM0.23m | 1:08AM0.23m | 12:29PM0.16m | 1:38AM0.16m | 1:06PM0.10m | 2:07AM0.10m | 1:42PM0.07m | 2:36AM0.05m | 2:20PM0.07m | 3:06AM0.03m | 2:59PM0.10m | 3:36AM0.04m | |||||||
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 10 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
99 | 131 | 125 | 52 | 153 | 99 | 7 | 83 | 90 | 116 | 131 | 140 | 111 | 214 | 173 | 133 | 133 | 125 | 315 | 188 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SE 5 | SSE 10 | N 5 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | S 16 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
46 | 78 | 52 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 130 | 79 | 67 | 72 | 73 | 55 | 82 | 64 | 79 | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SE 5 | SE 5 | S 18 | S 16 | S 10 | S 16 | S 9 | S 11 | S 16 | SSE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | E 5 | NE 13 |
89 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 26 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | 13 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 4 | — | ENE 8 | N 4 | N 5 | ENE 8 | SE 4 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | — | — | S 9 | SE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | — | E 5 |
— | 10 | — | 175 | 28 | 22 | 117 | 14 | 89 | 77 | 74 | — | — | 158 | 82 | 74 | 119 | 164 | — | 20 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 478 | 161 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











