Surf Forecasts:
Clifton Beach surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 4,829 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Clifton Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Clifton Beach in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here to break down the waves at Clifton Beach.
We’re looking at a patchy 16-day window, but there are a couple of sessions that’ll make you paddle hard. The water’s sitting at about 51°, which is a bit cooler than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget the extra neoprene.
The first real pulse comes in on Thursday afternoon, the 13th. A long period, 16-second SSW groundswell is pushing in at about 6 ft with a serious 1656 units of energy behind it. The wind is a cross-off from the NW at 15 km/h, keeping the surface clean. That’s a solid, powerful swell, and at 6 ft it might be a bit much for the learners. This break is fairly consistent and fairly exposed to the south, so it’ll soak up that energy.
Friday the 14th starts with 5 ft waves from the SSW, but that WNW wind picks up to 25 km/h, making it a cross-off. The afternoon turns real ugly with a cross-onshore blow from the SSW at 25 km/h. Leave that one for the kite guys.
Now, here’s the best of the first week. Saturday morning, the 15th. The swell drops a touch to 5 ft from the south, but the wind goes offshore from the NNW at a light 10 km/h. That’s a clean, glassy morning with a long 16-second period. The energy is still moderate at 1107. This is your prime window for a smooth, clean session.
By Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, the swell fades fast. Sunday morning is down to about 3 ft with a 14-second period and light offshore winds from the NNW at 5 km/h. It’s clean, but small. Sunday afternoon, the onshore wind ruins it, and we hit a dry spell.
From Monday the 17th all the way through to Saturday the 23rd, it’s mostly flat and weak. Swell stays below 2 ft with periods ranging from 14 to 18 seconds. There are a few clean mornings with light offshore winds, but the wave energy is weak, barely scratching the triple digits. This is a long, quiet stretch.
We get a nice pulse on Tuesday the 25th. The energy jumps back up with a 3 to 4 ft SSW swell, and a very long 18 to 19-second period. Winds are light cross-off from the WNW and NW, keeping things tidy.
But the big standout is Wednesday the 26th of August. A nice SW swell hits 5 ft in the morning, building to 6 ft by the afternoon with a 16-second period. The energy is strong, over 1300. The wind is offshore from the north at 25 km/h in the morning, then a gentle cross-off from the WNW in the afternoon. This is excellent, powerful surf. At 6 ft with a long period, this one is for the experienced crew looking for a proper session.
The wind gets nasty again Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th, with fresh cross-off and cross-shore winds over 35 km/h blowing through a shrinking swell. Leave it to the windsurfers.
So, to sum it up: Saturday the 15th for clean, mid-range waves, and Wednesday the 26th for the real power and size. The rest is mostly small or blown out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu night, min 6°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu night, calm by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sun night, fresh winds from the N by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
964 | 1210 | 1576 | 1131 | 1135 | 882 | 510 | 261 | 168 | 115 | 237 | 380 | 125 | 166 | 98 | 47 | 43 | 48 | 27 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:21AM0.44m | 7:48PM0.63m | 9:52AM0.47m | 8:44PM0.55m | 10:18AM0.50m | 9:44PM0.48m | 10:42AM0.53m | 10:52PM0.42m | 11:07AM0.56m | 00:08AM0.38m | 11:36AM0.59m | 1:25AM0.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:35AM0.09m | 1:27PM0.36m | 3:12AM0.15m | 2:45PM0.35m | 3:40AM0.21m | 4:05PM0.32m | 4:01AM0.26m | 5:20PM0.29m | 4:14AM0.30m | 6:26PM0.26m | 4:26AM0.33m | 7:21PM0.23m | |||||||
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 8 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 |
964 | 1210 | 7 | 1131 | 1135 | 882 | 510 | 261 | 168 | 115 | 237 | 380 | 125 | 166 | 98 | 47 | 43 | 48 | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 10 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 18 | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | SSW 14 |
16 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 17 | 108 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | 21 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 16 | SE 12 | E 12 | E 10 | — | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | — | S 19 |
— | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 27 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | W 4 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | NE 5 | N 3 | NE 3 | NNE 3 |
1 | 7 | 1576 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 14 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 55 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Coast of Tasmania | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Clifton Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Clifton Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Clifton Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Clifton Beach 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 (Clifton Beach) 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 Clifton Beach 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.
Are you planning a holiday in East Coast of Tasmania? If you are looking for accommodation near Clifton Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in East Coast of Tasmania, consider staying in Hobart which is 21 km (13 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Port Arthur which is 30 km (19 miles) away











