
Surf Forecasts:
Wategos surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, SE swell with 157 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with NNE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Wategos this week:
The surf forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wategos in the next 16 days are 0.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening at Wategos over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, lean run with barely a ripple for the first week and a half. There’s a serious gap in the action here. From now until the 11th of September, the surf is tiny, the energy is weak, and most of the time the conditions are just ordinary. We’re talking flat spells with combined swell energy barely hitting 74 (weak) at best, and mostly sitting in the teens or twenties. That’s not surf, that’s a lake.
The only real glimmer in this whole 16-day window comes late on Friday the 11th of September. We finally see a pulse of energy roll in. A 3ft swell from the SE with a very long period of 14 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and it brings the combined energy up to 375 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the SSE, which is a massive positive, keeping things clean. This is the standout. Now, a long period swell like that at a point break like Wategos? That’s a good match. The sets will be clean, powerful, and well-shaped. The catch is the swell direction is SE, and the optimum here is NE, so it’s not hitting the bank perfectly, but for this stretch, it’s the only game in town. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no strange anomalies to worry about.
Before that, on Sunday the 6th, there’s a little bump of 4ft swell from the N with a short period of 6 seconds and combined energy of 179 (moderate), but the wind is a cross-on from the NNW. It’s going to be chopped up and messy. Not worth getting excited about.
After the 11th, it drops right back off again. The rest of the second week is more of the same – tiny waves, weak energy, and poor conditions. There’s a morning on the 16th with glassy conditions, but the swell is only 2ft and the energy is a paltry 20 (weak). Not enough to push you around.
So, to sum it up: if you’re desperate for a paddle, keep your eyes on the afternoon of Friday the 11th of September. That’s your one shot. For the rest of the run, it’s a waiting game. The spot is very consistent, so it’s not normal to have this long a dry spell – forecasts can change, so keep checking.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 17°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 5 | E 9 | E 10 | NNE 5 | N 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | E 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 10 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
111 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 102 | 91 | 50 | 20 | 15 | 42 | 25 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 157 | 118 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross | glassy | off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:16AM1.01m | 1:25PM1.38m | 1:39AM0.89m | 2:48PM1.42m | 3:16AM0.87m | 4:05PM1.52m | 4:35AM0.93m | 5:07PM1.63m | 5:34AM1.03m | 5:59PM1.72m | 6:22AM1.15m | 6:44PM1.77m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:22AM0.27m | 8:17PM0.45m | 7:35AM0.32m | 9:55PM0.40m | 9:00AM0.30m | 11:06PM0.29m | 10:17AM0.23m | 11:59PM0.18m | 11:18AM0.14m | 00:41AM0.09m | 12:11PM0.06m | 1:19AM0.03m | |||||||
— | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 28 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 13 | S 10 | S 9 | E 10 | NNE 6 | E 10 | NNE 6 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | S 8 | NE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 10 | SE 8 |
72 | 46 | 27 | 65 | 98 | 41 | 18 | 60 | 17 | 50 | 130 | 242 | 103 | 63 | 20 | 208 | 234 | 157 | 118 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | NNE 6 | SSE 6 | E 9 | E 10 | S 8 | SSE 9 | S 9 | E 10 | NNE 6 | E 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 8 | S 8 |
40 | 40 | 18 | 10 | 27 | 28 | 11 | 29 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 42 | 25 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 86 | 43 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 10 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | SSE 14 | SSE 10 | E 10 | SE 6 | E 10 | E 4 | NNE 5 | E 9 | SSE 10 | N 8 | NE 7 | NNE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
28 | 28 | 33 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 43 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | S 3 | — | — | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | N 6 | N 6 | SSE 5 | — | E 4 | — | SSW 2 | S 9 | — | — | NNE 6 | — |
111 | 5 | — | — | — | 14 | 31 | 102 | 91 | 75 | — | 9 | — | 1 | 256 | — | — | 4 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 229 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Wategos Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Wategos provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Wategos can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Wategos 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 (Wategos) 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 Wategos 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.
Wategos is 27 km (17 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










