
Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 1,055 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s is also forecast. 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
The forecast for The Spit is a long, tough stretch. The next 16 days are looking pretty bleak for any decent surf. We’re staring down a gap of nearly two weeks with zero to recommend. The first week or so is plagued by lumpy, messy cross and cross-onshore winds, with swell heights that are either too small or too big and poorly shaped for this river mouth. The overall pattern is one of frustration, not stoke.
The first real chance to even consider a paddle comes on the morning of Friday, September 18th. There’s a brief window of glassy conditions at The Spit, with a tiny 2ft swell from the east. The wave energy is weak (43), but with the wind dead glass, it would be clean. The swell period is a short 6 seconds, so don’t expect any grunt. It’s more of a longboard session or a chance for beginners to get wet, but the crowds are often a factor here. It’s not a standout, just a small respite.
Saturday the 19th morning offers another tiny moment. A clean wind from the north, with a 1ft easterly swell and a period of 8 seconds (43 energy). The wind is cross-offshore, which will keep the surface clean, but the size is minimal. Again, it’s the best on offer, but that’s not saying much.
The only other event that pokes its head up is the morning of Thursday, September 24th, over a week away. A 6ft SE swell arrives with a 7-second period, giving a moderate energy reading of 344. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the north, so it won’t be a total mess, but the period is short and the swell direction doesn’t match the optimum east. It’s still marked as poor surf conditions. For the afternoon, the swell builds to 7ft (501 energy), but this is getting too big for this break, and with a moderate cross-shore, it’ll be a lumpy, expert-only affair if anything.
Honestly, this is a blank run that’s pretty normal for the area when the window is this consistent. The Spit is an exposed river mouth that needs a very specific mix of size and clean wind, and we just don’t have it. No standout, no stoke to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
62 | 362 | 673 | 1055 | 769 | 213 | 456 | 304 | 90 | 107 | 73 | 115 | 45 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 26 | 18 | 27 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:37AM1.27m | 7:53PM1.64m | 8:17AM1.34m | 8:32PM1.57m | 8:56AM1.39m | 9:08PM1.48m | 9:34AM1.41m | 9:43PM1.36m | 10:12AM1.40m | 10:16PM1.23m | 10:52AM1.36m | 10:50PM1.09m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:39AM0.13m | 1:26PM0.13m | 2:14AM0.09m | 2:11PM0.11m | 2:48AM0.09m | 2:54PM0.14m | 3:20AM0.10m | 3:37PM0.20m | 3:51AM0.14m | 4:20PM0.29m | 4:22AM0.19m | 5:05PM0.38m | |||||||
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | E 8 | E 15 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | E 14 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 11 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SSE 10 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
62 | 5 | 4 | 343 | 224 | 4 | 138 | 102 | 5 | 66 | 66 | 76 | 45 | 33 | 10 | 32 | 26 | 18 | 27 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | S 22 | SE 10 | SE 11 | E 14 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 |
13 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | — | S 23 | SE 23 | — | — | E 14 | E 15 | SE 20 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 12 | E 10 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 |
14 | — | 11 | 21 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 8 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | — | — | E 6 | — | — | NE 3 | — |
— | 362 | 673 | 1055 | 769 | 213 | 456 | 304 | 90 | 107 | 73 | 115 | — | — | 32 | — | — | 3 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 348 | 348 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 28 | 17 | 22 | 28 | 7 | 28 | 28 | 17 | 44 | 176 | 17 |
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.










