Wategos Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.64° S 153.63° E

Wategos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Wategos sea temperature is
20.0° C
0.6° 

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


Wategos surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (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★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s 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 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Tue 18th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Best Surf10PM (Tue 18th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 19th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks for your stretch of coast.

Overall, the window starts off flat and pretty ordinary, then we get a pulse of mid-period swell mid-week that will be the best of the bunch. After that, it fades away again. So, don’t get too excited about the start or the end—there’s one clear window to focus on.

The first few days, from the 16th through the 18th, are basically a write-off. The swell is tiny, under 1ft, and while it’s clean thanks to offshore winds, there’s just nothing to ride. The energy is weak too, with combined energy only around 37–38. You’d be better off doing anything else. It’s a flat spell you’ll have to sit through.

Then, on the 19th, things start to wake up. The swell jumps to about 5ft from the southeast with a period of 11 seconds. That’s the groundswell starting to show itself, and the wave energy jumps up to 713. That’s moderate energy but the quality is there. The wind is light and offshore, which is a big positive. This is the standout.

The morning of the 19th (Wednesday) is your best call. It’s clean, has some push, and should be a proper surf. The following morning, the 20th, is also good—about 5ft from the east-southeast, and it’s completely glassy with zero wind. That’s a real clean option too, though the period is shorter at 8 seconds. Still, it’s rideable and clean.

From the 21st onward, the wind turns onshore in the afternoon and the swell drops off. Mornings on the 21st and 22nd are still surfable in the 4–5ft range, but it gets messier. The 23rd and 24th are back to tiny, poor surf. This is where the second week just kind of gives up.

There’s a small bump around the 27th–28th, with 5ft and 4ft swells from the southeast, but the conditions are only rated as ordinary, and the energy is moderate at best. Nothing special. After that, it’s back to dribble for the rest of the month.

So, to put it simply: if you’re getting wet, make it the 19th or the 20th. The 19th morning has the most juice and clean offshore wind. That’s the one. The 20th is glassy and clean, a close second. Everything else is either flat, messy, or just not worth the hassle.

Water temperature is sitting at 68°F, which is about 1°F below the average for this time of year – pretty much normal, so don’t stress about a wetsuit thickness change.

Keep an eye on it, but for now, that mid-week window is your ticket. This is Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
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)
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
E
10
2.1
SE
7
1.9
ESE
7
2
SE
8
2
ESE
8
1.9
SE
8
1.9
ESE
8
1.8
ESE
9
1.5
SE
11
1.3
SE
11
1.3
SE
8
1.6
ESE
8
1.3
E
7
1.6
E
8
1.6
E
8
1.4
E
7
1.5
ENE
7
1.3
ENE
8
1.2
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
33
31
434
397
453
441
473
469
500
515
399
233
303
173
302
290
215
243
202
163
105
Wind (km/h)
25
SSW
20
SSE
25
SE
20
ESE
20
SE
20
ESE
20
SE
15
SE
10
ESE
10
S
10
SSE
5
SSE
0
SSE
0
SE
5
NNW
5
NNW
20
NNE
20
N
20
NNW
15
N
20
SSW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-off
High Tide
10:16AM1.33m
10:23PM1.46m
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
Low Tide
4:11PM0.18m
4:44AM0.11m
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
clear
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:24
 mm
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
9
5
1
Temp °C
18
18
17
17
17
18
18
18
17
17
18
17
16
18
17
19
19
17
23
22
17
Feels °C
13
14
12
13
13
13
14
14
14
15
16
17
16
18
16
17
16
14
20
20
14
  • 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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