Surf Forecasts:
Wategos surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, ESE swell with 838 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period with SE 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 (Aug 18) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. 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 1.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards.
Right now, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first real chance of a surf comes in on Tuesday morning the 18th of August, but honestly, it’s a tough call. The swell is there at 7 ft from the ESE, but the period is short at 8 seconds, and the wind is a cross-off from the southeast at 9 mph. The combined energy is moderate (552), but the conditions are marginal. It’s not really worth paddling out for.
Wednesday the 19th is where things start to look a little better. The swell drops to 5 ft from the SE, and the period stretches out to 11 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The wind stays light cross-off from the SSE at 6 mph, keeping it clean. Combined energy is still moderate (598). This is the pick of the week. Wategos (Byron Bay) is a point break, very consistent, and the longer period will shape up nicely. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, and with that offshore wind, it’ll be glassy. The water temp is 68°, about average for this time of year. A solid Wednesday morning session.
Thursday the 20th offers another chance with 5 ft swell from the ESE, 8-second period, and light cross-off wind from the SW at 6 mph. The energy drops a bit (269), but it’s still clean. Good for a beginner-friendly wave again.
After that, we hit a real dry spell. From Friday the 21st all the way through to Monday the 24th, the swell is tiny, the wind is onshore or cross-on, and the conditions are poor. Not worth a paddle. Tuesday the 25th afternoon goes glassy with 2 ft, but it’s barely a wave. Wednesday the 26th is flat. Thursday the 27th brings a small 4 ft windswell from the north, but it’s onshore and messy.
The next real glimmer is Friday the 28th morning: 2 ft from the NNE, but the wind is offshore from the south at 12 mph, keeping it clean. It’s small, but surfable. Then we’re back into tiny stuff for the end of August and into September.
Honestly, if you’re looking for the standout, it’s Wednesday the 19th morning. That 5 ft SE groundswell with the 11-second period and light offshore wind is your best bet. After that, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 545 | 541 | 541 | 515 | 445 | 262 | 263 | 273 | 73 | 59 | 79 | 91 | 93 | 102 | 130 | 91 | 81 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 72 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | on | on |
High Tide | 11:48AM1.28m | 11:35PM1.11m | 12:42PM1.24m | 00:20AM0.96m | 1:49PM1.21m | 1:26AM0.85m | 3:05PM1.21m | 3:01AM0.80m | 4:16PM1.27m | 4:25AM0.83m | 5:11PM1.35m | 5:23AM0.89m | 5:54PM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:49PM0.45m | 5:52AM0.26m | 6:54PM0.56m | 6:36AM0.34m | 8:25PM0.62m | 7:36AM0.40m | 10:07PM0.59m | 8:54AM0.42m | 11:16PM0.51m | 10:07AM0.38m | 00:01AM0.41m | 11:04AM0.31m | 00:36AM0.32m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SE 15 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 8 | 281 | 515 | 445 | 262 | 263 | 273 | 57 | 59 | 79 | 91 | 93 | 102 | 130 | 91 | 81 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 72 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SE 14 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 9 | E 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 16 | NE 7 | SSE 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 31 | 30 | 117 | 83 | 68 | 51 | 3 | 8 | 73 | 38 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 13 | 40 | 56 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SE 14 | ESE 12 | S 16 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 9 | — | SE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 9 | E 13 | E 11 | ESE 10 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 11 | SE 12 | S 8 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 13 | 48 | 129 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 3 | — | 73 | 40 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 37 | 11 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | N 3 | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | NNE 4 |
| kJ | 545 | 541 | 541 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 229 | 13 | 13 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 445 | 13 |
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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