Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 1,736 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Spit this week:
The surf forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Spit in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s talk about The Spit.
Honestly, partner, this is a rough patch. The water’s about average temp for the season, but that’s the only thing that’s normal. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing but messy, onshore junk.
Starting Tuesday the 15th, we’ve got a tiny 2 ft of weak, short-period E swell, but that 25 km/h crosswind is ruining any chance of a wave. That sets the tone. Wednesday the 16th sees a jump in energy mid-afternoon, with the combined energy hitting 438, but it’s 6 ft of lumpy, cross-onshore slop from the SSE. If you’re a beginner, that’s way too much juice and it’s blown out anyway.
Thursday the 17th stays frustrating. The swell is there, around 4 ft to 5 ft from the SE with moderate energy (362–512), but fresh cross-shore winds are keeping a nasty chop on the surface. Friday the 18th offers a brief moment of hope with light onshore winds and a clean-ish look in the morning? Nope, it’s still "fairly choppy" with poor surf conditions.
Finally, on Saturday the 19th, we get a glimmer. The morning has a clean 2 ft from the ESE with a nice cross-offshore wind from the NNW. It’s only weak energy (78), but that’s the only "surfable" window in the whole forecast. Even then, it’s ordinary.
After that, it’s a total wipeout. From Sunday the 20th, the swell drops to maybe 0.3 ft and stays there for days. The 21st and 22nd are flat with tiny, useless waves and onshore winds. Some energy tries to creep back around the 23rd, but it’s just more rain showers and cross-onshore choppy rubbish. The end of September into the 30th shows a little more size, around 3 ft to 4 ft from the E/ENE, but the winds never swing favourably. It’s constant cross-on or onshore breeze. The 30th morning offers a clean look with cross-offshore NNW wind, but again, only 3 ft of weak, short-period stuff.
The standout? If you're desperate, Saturday the 19th of September morning is your only real shot. It’s small, clean, and ordinary, but it’s the only window that’s not a total loss. Other than that, this is a two-week stretch best spent waxing your board and waiting. For a beginner, anything over 5 ft here is a no-go, and we only touch that once on the 16th, but the quality is so poor it’s not worth it. The Spit is a river mouth, exposed to the east, and we just aren't getting the right wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 18 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 37 | 85 | 388 | 850 | 369 | 465 | 830 | 145 | 135 | 72 | 76 | 54 | 24 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 10:50PM1.09m | 11:34AM1.31m | 11:26PM0.97m | 12:22PM1.26m | 00:11AM0.86m | 1:19PM1.21m | 1:14AM0.78m | 2:28PM1.20m | 2:47AM0.75m | 3:40PM1.23m | 4:28AM0.80m | 4:39PM1.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:54AM0.25m | 5:57PM0.48m | 5:30AM0.32m | 7:03PM0.55m | 6:13AM0.39m | 8:30PM0.57m | 7:11AM0.45m | 9:59PM0.53m | 8:26AM0.49m | 10:56PM0.45m | 9:42AM0.47m | 11:35PM0.37m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 16 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | E 13 | NE 13 | SE 10 | NE 13 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NE 4 | SE 7 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 37 | 20 | 4 | 7 | 369 | 7 | 303 | 145 | 135 | 72 | 76 | 54 | 24 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | E 15 | E 14 | SE 18 | SE 17 | E 7 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | SE 10 | SE 7 | SE 18 | SE 16 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | E 14 | E 8 | SE 16 | E 8 | SE 10 | E 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 4 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SE 10 | S 3 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | NNE 4 | — | N 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 85 | 388 | 850 | 3 | 465 | 830 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 7 | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 66 | 176 | 1391 | 302 | 28 | 166 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 17 | 28 | 509 | 18 | 33 | 81 | 33 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Spit Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Spit provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Spit can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Spit 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 Spit) 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 Spit 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 Spit is 4 km (2 miles) from the city of Southport. If you plan a holiday in Gold Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Southport. Southport has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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