Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, E swell with 187 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with E 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Spit in the next 16 days are 1.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about the Spit. This is a river mouth break facing east, and the next couple of weeks are mostly a letdown. The water’s running about 68°F, which is dead average for the season.
Through the first week, it’s a real struggle. Thursday and Friday, August 20th and 21st, are total washouts — onshore winds, tiny short-period swell, and combined energy between 210 and 108. That’s weak sauce. Saturday the 22nd morning cleans up a little with a light offshore breeze, but the swell is only 3 feet from the east-northeast, and energy drops to 74. Barely a bump. Sunday through Tuesday (23rd to 25th) are the same story — 2 to 3 feet, weak, mostly choppy. Energy stays between 69 and 87.
Wednesday the 26th has clean cross-offshore wind, but still only 3 feet of weak 7-second swell (energy 84). Not worth it. Thursday the 27th is blown out. Friday the 28th has a bit more energy at 116, but onshore wind at 20-25 km/h makes it choppy. Saturday the 29th is similar.
Sunday the 30th is a mixed bag — morning has light cross-shore wind, but the swell is tiny at 3 feet. The afternoon turns nasty with 25 km/h onshore wind, swell jumping to 4 feet but with a short 6-second period, and energy up to 217. That’s more kite-surfing territory.
Now, Monday the 31st of August is the real standout. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze, and the swell is a solid 6 feet from the ENE with a 7-second period and combined energy of 269. That’s a decent size. But the afternoon is the big one — 8 feet from the ENE, 8-second period, and a massive combined energy of 1203. That’s strong wave energy, but it’s expert-only, and the cross-shore wind will make it lumpy. For a river mouth, that will produce some heavy, shifting peaks. If you’re good enough, that’s the session.
Tuesday the 1st of September is marginal, but Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is another good option — clean offshore wind from the west, 4 feet from the east with an 8-second period, and combined energy of 212. That’s clean and surfable. The afternoon goes glassy, but the swell drops to 3 feet.
From Thursday the 3rd onward, the swell fades out. Thursday morning has a glassy 2 feet from the east with a 10-second period (energy 95), and Friday the 4th is similar. The period is long, but the size is too small.
Bottom line: the only real highlight is Monday the 31st of August — the afternoon if you’re an expert, or the morning for a solid 6 feet. Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is a clean backup. Everything else is flat or blown.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 178 | 187 | 130 | 82 | 61 | 62 | 65 | 71 | 78 | 83 | 77 | 57 | 63 | 64 | 90 | 73 | 70 | 103 | 78 | 74 | 52 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 2:07PM1.18m | 1:41AM0.84m | 3:23PM1.20m | 3:04AM0.79m | 4:32PM1.25m | 4:42AM0.80m | 5:25PM1.33m | 5:45AM0.86m | 6:07PM1.41m | 6:29AM0.94m | 6:43PM1.48m | 7:06AM1.03m | 7:17PM1.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:57PM0.61m | 8:04AM0.41m | 10:29PM0.58m | 9:09AM0.42m | 11:31PM0.50m | 10:15AM0.40m | 00:13AM0.42m | 11:10AM0.36m | 00:48AM0.33m | 11:57AM0.31m | 1:19AM0.26m | 12:39PM0.26m | 1:48AM0.20m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 14 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 178 | 187 | 130 | 82 | 61 | 62 | 65 | 71 | 78 | 83 | 77 | 57 | 63 | 64 | 90 | 73 | 70 | 103 | 78 | 4 | 52 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | ENE 7 | NE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | S 7 | SE 8 | E 12 | E 15 | NNE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 5 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | E 13 |
| kJ | 32 | — | 59 | 42 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 14 | E 12 | E 11 | SE 7 | E 12 | NE 10 | S 8 | S 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | S 11 | E 16 | E 15 | NE 14 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 9 | 34 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 8 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 2 | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 5 | — | ENE 7 | SSE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 35 | — | 74 | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 22 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 0 | 0 | 497 | 106 | 4 | 4 | 68 |
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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