Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 4,880 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period with ESE 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Spit in the next 16 days are 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 7PM. 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and miles.
Water temp is right around 70°, which is normal for the season.
Honestly, the next week is a rough one. Friday the 17th is a no-go with strong south-southeast winds and thunderstorm risk. Saturday morning the 18th is clean, but it’s only 6ft from the east-southeast and still windy. The real tease is Saturday afternoon: the swell hits 8ft from the east-southeast with a 10-second period, clean cross-off wind, and the wave energy is pumping (1261). But the word is it’s predicted to be too big for this spot. If you’re an expert, go for it; otherwise, you’ll be in over your head. Sunday through Tuesday is a total washout with onshore wind and messy surf. That’s a gap of several days with nothing good.
Wednesday the 22nd is just marginal with a 4ft onshore swell. Thursday and Friday are small and choppy.
The only real standout in the whole 16 days is Sunday, July 26th. The swell is tiny at 2ft from the east, but the wind goes glassy. It’s clean, it’s quiet, and the energy is weak (72). This is a longboard morning. The Spit is a river mouth, beginner-friendly, and you’ll have some company, but it’ll be a relaxed vibe.
Looking ahead to August 1st, there’s a hint of something with a 6ft south-southeast swell and clean offshore wind on Saturday morning, but that’s a week and a half away. It’s promising but not a sure thing.
So, a long dry spell ahead. The only real shot is that glassy morning on the 26th, and even then, it’s small. Keep your chin up – it’s consistent here, so stuff usually turns around.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Mon morning, calm by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 235 | 305 | 334 | 465 | 1210 | 2926 | 1256 | 1238 | 1203 | 1194 | 1152 | 1620 | 882 | 618 | 375 | 318 | 268 | 225 | 189 | 155 | 152 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:26AM1.21m | 10:43PM1.67m | 11:14AM1.20m | 11:25PM1.52m | 12:03PM1.19m | 00:07AM1.37m | 12:55PM1.18m | 00:49AM1.21m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:34AM1.08m | 3:00PM1.20m | 2:28AM0.97m | 4:10PM1.25m | 3:37AM0.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:10PM0.25m | 5:20AM0.23m | 5:01PM0.33m | 6:01AM0.26m | 5:53PM0.42m | 6:42AM0.30m | 6:52PM0.52m | 7:25AM0.34m | 8:01PM0.59m | 8:11AM0.36m | 9:24PM0.63m | 9:00AM0.37m | 10:45PM0.61m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — |
mm | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 20 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | — | S 17 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 36 | 51 | 334 | 465 | 1210 | 1393 | 15 | 33 | 29 | — | 5 | 1069 | 882 | 618 | 375 | 318 | 268 | 225 | 189 | 155 | 152 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | E 18 | S 24 | S 24 | — | — | — | — | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 10 |
| kJ | 9 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 11 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | S 21 | S 16 | S 15 | SE 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 235 | 305 | 14 | 18 | 51 | 2926 | 1256 | 1238 | 1203 | 1194 | 1152 | 1620 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 14 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 618 | 619 | 22 | 302 | 754 | 671 | 671 | 576 | 166 | 271 | 80 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 17 | 17 | 28 | 0 | 17 | 22 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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