Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,031 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 3.5m 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s be straight with ya. The Spit is looking like a tough stretch for the next couple weeks. Most days the swell energy is chump change – under 100 – and when it does pick up, the wind’s all wrong. Waves are mostly short-period windswell, 6 to 8 seconds, nothing with any real grunt. Water temp is around 70°, which is pretty much average for the time of year, so you can’t blame the cold.
There’s basically only one window worth mentioning, and it comes with a serious warning. On Friday, September 18th , the morning shows a big pulse – combined energy hits 1508 (strong to very strong), with 8ft swell from the SSE at 9 seconds. That’s a lot of water, but the data says it’s too big for this river break. For a beginner-friendly spot like this, anything over about 5ft is pushing it, and 8ft is expert-only, with a moderate cross-shore wind making it sloppy and heavy. Not the kind of day you paddle out for fun.
The rest of that first week is a mess – cross-onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and weak, choppy waves barely hitting chest high.
Into the second week, Thursday, September 24th afternoon sees 5ft from the E at 7 seconds, energy at 238 (moderate), but it’s onshore and poor. Then Friday, September 25th morning brings 6ft from the ENE at 8 seconds, energy at 563 (moderate-to-strong), but again, onshore wind and questionable tide. That’s your best bet, and it’s still a marginal call. When this spot is firing, crowds can be an issue, but right now you’ll have it to yourself because it’s just not happening.
Bottom line: one iffy morning in the second week is the only standout, and it’s not clean. Long-range looks dry. Sometimes the ocean just shuts down like this for a while. Gotta be patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue night, strong winds from the SSE by Wed afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | SE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 30 | 221 | 53 | 48 | 33 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 32 | 33 | 269 | 703 | 626 | 660 | 1621 | 1151 | 387 | 486 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:08PM1.48m | 9:34AM1.41m | 9:43PM1.36m | 10:12AM1.40m | 10:16PM1.23m | 10:52AM1.36m | 10:50PM1.09m | 11:34AM1.31m | 11:26PM0.97m | 12:22PM1.26m | 00:11AM0.86m | 1:19PM1.21m | 1:14AM0.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:20AM0.10m | 3:37PM0.20m | 3:51AM0.14m | 4:20PM0.29m | 4:22AM0.19m | 5:05PM0.38m | 4:54AM0.25m | 5:57PM0.48m | 5:30AM0.32m | 7:03PM0.55m | 6:13AM0.39m | 8:30PM0.57m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — |
 | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | E 6 | SE 10 | SSE 11 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | E 13 | SE 10 | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 11 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 30 | 35 | 17 | 11 | 33 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 32 | 33 | 4 | 703 | — | — | 457 | 357 | 182 | 486 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 6 | E 13 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 15 | E 14 |
| kJ | 5 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | SE 7 | SE 21 | E 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | SE 7 | E 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 14 |
| kJ | 4 | 14 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | NW 3 | — | SSE 7 | S 4 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 9 | — |
| kJ | 30 | 221 | 53 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | 269 | 24 | 626 | 660 | 1621 | 1151 | 387 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 14 | 28 | 28 | 17 | 28 | 143 | 18 | 101 | 415 | 66 | 176 | 1391 | 867 | 22 | 302 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 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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