Surf Forecasts:
Wategos surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 515 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period with ESE 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 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. 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 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty with a look at the local lineup. We've got a real slow patch coming up, so let's get into it.
The first bit of action hits on Tuesday, August 18th. There's a 1.9m swell from the ESE, but it's a quick, 8-second interval. The energy is moderate (477) and the wind is a cross-off from the SE at 15 km/h, keeping the surface tidy. The water's about 68°F, which is normal for this time of year. It's a bit of a messy, workable wave for the more experienced.
Wednesday the 19th is a step up. The swell eases to 1.5m, but the period stretches to 11 seconds, giving it some real punch. The wind is light, so the morning is going to be clean and fun. Thursday the 20th holds steady with 1.6m from the ESE and light winds – a couple of good days for the crew.
Now, the bad news. From Friday the 21st of August all the way through to Sunday the 30th, it's a ghost town. Swell is below 1m, the energy is weak, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-on. There's a tiny, glassy morning on Sunday the 23rd with a 0.9m wave, but it's short period and nothing to write home about.
The Best Bet
Your best chance is the last day of the month. Monday, August 31st, we see a 1.0m groundswell from the SE, with a killer 13-second period. That's a lot of energy (484). The wind is a clean cross-off from the SE at 20 km/h. That's a proper, clean wave for Wategos. The long period will wrap beautifully around the point. For a late-August surprise, that's a solid shout.
After that, there's a whisper of a 1.1m wave on Wednesday the 2nd of September, but it's a short, 6-second period. Keep your eyes on the 31st.
Stay patient, the ocean will come around.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 469 | 486 | 515 | 437 | 296 | 291 | 300 | 129 | 54 | 84 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 105 | 110 | 99 | 81 | 64 | 68 | 90 |
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 | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 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 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | ENE 7 | SE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 469 | 129 | 515 | 68 | 296 | 291 | 300 | 129 | 54 | 84 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 105 | 110 | 99 | 81 | 64 | 68 | 90 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | S 12 | ENE 7 | S 10 | ENE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 |
| kJ | 8 | 42 | 102 | 33 | 44 | 9 | 8 | 56 | 38 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 32 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | — | S 11 | S 15 | S 9 | — | — | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | — | E 13 | E 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 18 | NE 9 | S 12 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 26 | — | 36 | 4 | 15 | — | — | 9 | 42 | — | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 26 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 9 | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | — | NE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | N 4 |
| kJ | — | 486 | — | 437 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 22 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 256 | 6 | 1 | 163 | 1 | 0 | 216 | 1 | 1 | 229 | 13 |
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.
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