Surf Forecasts:
Wategos surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 3,623 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period with E 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 10s 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down what’s happening at Wategos.
First thing – don’t even look at the ocean for the first few days. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th are a total mess. Strong south winds, 40 km/h offshore, make it clean but impossible to paddle into. There’s no real swell to speak of either.
Saturday the 18th sees a shift. By the afternoon, we’ve got 2.1m swell from the ESE at 10 seconds, moderate energy (829), and the wind is still a strong offshore breeze. It’s clean if you can punch through, but it’s a workout. That swell builds fast. Sunday the 19th blows up to 4.5m and 4.0m from the SE with very strong energy (3504 and 2998) – this is big-wave territory, only for the experts. 10-second period groundswell, cross-off winds, clean but heavy.
Monday the 20th keeps it solid at 3.5m from the ESE, still decent energy. By Tuesday the 21st, the swell settles to 2.3m in the morning and drops to 2.0m by afternoon. That afternoon window is your best bet of the whole run – 2.0m, east swell, 10 seconds, and a gentle 15 km/h cross-off breeze. Clean, manageable, and the point break shapes it nicely.
Water’s sitting around 69°F, which is normal for July.
From Wednesday the 22nd, the swell fades. 1.6m with glassy offshore in the morning, then it drops through the rest of the week. After that, it’s a long stretch of tiny waves – under 3 feet from the 23rd onward. Thursday the 24th offers a 1.2m, 8-second swell in clean offshore wind, but nothing to write home about.
The second week is a bust. From the 23rd through the 31st, it’s all 0.3m to 0.5m with poor conditions. Don’t expect anything rideable.
To sum it up: your standout is Tuesday the 21st afternoon. That’s the one day where the swell, wind, and size all line up for a good session at Wategos.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 47mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 18°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 11 | 13 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 821 | 3030 | 3504 | 2998 | 2459 | 2033 | 2167 | 1650 | 1004 | 725 | 563 | 431 | 372 | 326 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:40PM1.89m | 10:03AM1.16m | 10:23PM1.77m | 10:51AM1.18m | 11:04PM1.60m | 11:42AM1.19m | 11:44PM1.42m | 12:36PM1.20m | 00:25AM1.23m | 1:35PM1.20m | 1:11AM1.07m | 2:40PM1.22m | 2:09AM0.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:21AM0.02m | 3:46PM0.05m | 5:00AM0.06m | 4:35PM0.16m | 5:38AM0.11m | 5:26PM0.30m | 6:16AM0.16m | 6:22PM0.44m | 6:55AM0.22m | 7:31PM0.56m | 7:39AM0.28m | 8:57PM0.61m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — |
mm | 8 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 6 | S 16 | S 22 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | S 24 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | S 14 | SSE 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | — | 11 | 9 | 64 | 19 | 10 | 821 | 3030 | 11 | 32 | 28 | 97 | 35 | 1650 | 1004 | 725 | 563 | 431 | 372 | 326 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 19 | SE 18 | SE 18 | — | — | E 20 | SSE 21 | S 24 | S 24 | — | — | — | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | — | 7 | 13 | 13 | — | — | 8 | 44 | 11 | 11 | — | — | — | 29 | 46 | 40 | 37 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | S 15 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2214 | 1099 | 665 | 494 | 762 | 923 | 1408 | 912 | 3504 | 2998 | 2459 | 2033 | 2167 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 506 | 389 | 257 | 508 | 13 | 58 | 274 | 389 | 604 | 389 | 229 | 92 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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