Wategos Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.64° S 153.63° E

Wategos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Wategos sea temperature is
19.9° C
0.7° 

Wategos surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Wategos surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-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, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. 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 cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 18th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 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 folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Wategos.

Right off the bat, the first half of this run is not great. We’ve got a decent-sized swell rolling in Monday and Tuesday, around 6ft to 6ft from the ESE and SE, but a solid cross-off wind is keeping things messy, and the period is short—only 7 to 8 seconds. The wave energy is moderate but not clean enough to get excited about. Honestly, those first few days are a write-off.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday, 19th August. The swell drops a touch to 5ft from the SE, but look at that period jump to 11 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The wind goes light offshore in the morning from the SSE, cleaning it right up. The combined wave energy gets up to a solid 653 (moderate energy) and the conditions are set to improve. This is the best call for the early part of the outlook. Wategos (Byron Bay) is a point break that handles that SE swell direction really well, and with light offshore wind, it’s going to be glassy and clean. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but with 5ft sets on a longer period, there’ll be plenty of fun for everyone.

Thursday morning still looks okay with a 6ft ESE swell and light cross-off wind, but things fall apart after that. From Thursday afternoon right through to the end of August, it’s a painful stretch. Wind shifts onshore or cross-shore, swell height drops under 3ft, and the periods stay short and weak. The energy numbers barely get into triple digits. There are six days in a row there where the surf is just flat or blown out.

Now, there is a bit of a wildcard on the horizon. On Saturday, 29th August, there’s a sudden pulse of swell from the NNE at 6ft. It’s short period (7 seconds) and the wind is cross-off, but the combined energy jumps right back up to 398. It’s not for beginners – that size with a short period can be a bit of a washing machine – but for the experienced crew, it’ll be lumpy and fun. The water temp is sitting around 68°, which is about 1° cooler than average for this time of year, so nothing wild.

The standout, if I had to pick one, is Wednesday, 19th August – that SE groundswell with light offshore wind is the cleanest window we get. The other one to watch is that 29th August spike, but it’s further out and less certain, so don’t hold your breath just yet. For the rest of it, you’re better off cleaning your wax out of the car.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
2
1
3
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
ESE
7
1.9
SE
8
1.9
SE
8
1.9
SE
8
1.9
ESE
8
1.9
ESE
9
1.5
SE
11
1.4
SE
11
1.2
SE
10
1.4
ESE
8
1.6
ESE
8
1.1
E
7
1.1
E
7
1
E
7
1
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
1
ENE
8
1.1
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
1
NE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
333
416
392
473
481
549
515
445
262
238
291
120
121
94
102
84
137
135
113
120
116
Wind (km/h)
25
ESE
20
ESE
15
SE
15
SE
20
SE
10
SE
10
S
10
SE
5
SW
10
SSW
10
NE
10
NW
10
N
20
NNE
15
NNW
15
NNW
20
N
15
NNW
10
N
25
NNE
20
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
High Tide
11:00AM1.32m
10:58PM1.28m
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
Low Tide
4:57PM0.32m
5:17AM0.18m
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
clear
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
6:11
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:24
5:25
 mm
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
Temp °C
18
18
18
18
18
18
17
18
17
17
18
17
19
19
17
21
20
19
21
20
18
Feels °C
13
14
14
14
14
15
16
16
17
16
17
15
16
16
14
18
17
17
19
17
16
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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