Surf Forecasts:
Wategos surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, ENE swell with 221 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with ENE 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wategos in the next 16 days are 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 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 on the cards for the coming weeks.
It's a pretty quiet stretch ahead, with a lot of small, onshore, and just plain average conditions on the menu. We're looking at a long run of small waves and often poor surf, but there are a few windows where the stars align for a session. The water temp at Wategos is sitting around 69°F, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing to write home about there.
The first real chance to get a wave, and it's a pretty ordinary one, comes on Thursday the 27th of August. We’ve got a small 3ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is a moderate offshore from the S and SSE, so the surface will be clean. The combined swell energy is weak at 109 (Thursday morning) and 116 (Thursday afternoon). It's surfable, but nothing to get excited about. Friday the 28th is much the same story with a tiny 2ft to 2ft swell, but with a light offshore or cross-off breeze the waves will be clean. The energy is barely there, reading 71 and 61. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th also see a small 2ft to 2ft swell from the E, with a moderate offshore wind keeping things tidy. The energy is still weak, in the 60s and 70s.
Monday the 31st of August is a write-off with tiny 2ft waves and dropping energy (42 and 50). Then we hit a bit of a gap. Conditions are poor for days.
Looking further out, we get a bit of a tease on Tuesday the 1st of September. The swell is still tiny at 2ft from the E, but the wind goes glassy in the morning. That's a standout moment, and the combined energy bumps up to a moderate 126, which is interesting for such a small wave. It’s the best chance for a really clean, glassy wave, even if it's small. The next day, Wednesday the 2nd of September morning, also sees glassy conditions for a 3ft swell from the ENE, with energy at 156. That's another good window for a clean, if small, session. The afternoon of the 2nd sees a bigger energy spike to 322 from a 4ft ENE swell, but the wind swings onshore, so it's a mess.
After that, it's more poor surf with onshore winds until we get a small window on Tuesday the 8th of September morning with a 2ft ENE swell and a light cross-offshore breeze, energy at 79. The very last day, Wednesday the 9th of September afternoon, has a 2ft E swell with a fresh offshore wind, energy at 63. It's clean, but tiny.
Overall, the best call is probably the glassy morning on Tuesday the 1st of September. It's not going to be big, but you'll have a clean, uncrowded, and glassy surface to work with. The Wednesday morning before the wind turns is another solid option. The rest of the period is pretty much for the die-hards.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
159 | 115 | 134 | 91 | 116 | 116 | 87 | 64 | 83 | 49 | 69 | 75 | 52 | 54 | 63 | 59 | 39 | 56 | 85 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:44AM1.05m | 7:04PM1.62m | 7:18AM1.13m | 7:36PM1.67m | 7:52AM1.21m | 8:08PM1.69m | 8:27AM1.28m | 8:40PM1.65m | 9:03AM1.34m | 9:13PM1.58m | 9:41AM1.38m | 9:49PM1.47m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:08AM0.23m | 12:29PM0.16m | 1:38AM0.16m | 1:06PM0.10m | 2:07AM0.10m | 1:42PM0.07m | 2:36AM0.05m | 2:20PM0.07m | 3:06AM0.03m | 2:59PM0.10m | 3:36AM0.04m | 3:41PM0.16m | |||||||
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 10 |
159 | 115 | 134 | 91 | 116 | 116 | 226 | 282 | 173 | 366 | 214 | 223 | 184 | 54 | 137 | 92 | 230 | 169 | 167 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | N 5 | S 10 | NNE 6 | N 6 | S 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | NE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 19 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 |
18 | 17 | 7 | 36 | 3 | 5 | 87 | 64 | 63 | 49 | 69 | 75 | 52 | 4 | 63 | 59 | 322 | 622 | 217 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 16 | SSE 10 | SE 16 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | SE 16 | SSE 16 | SE 13 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 15 | NE 9 | E 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 |
10 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 24 | 83 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 39 | 56 | 85 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NW 5 | — | — | S 6 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 10 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | — | ESE 5 | E 5 |
22 | 25 | — | — | 88 | 195 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 66 | 665 | 216 | 113 | — | 46 | 23 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 161 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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.











