Surf Forecasts:
Clifton Beach surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,112 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 12s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Clifton Beach in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 13s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Clifton Beach over the next couple of weeks.
First up, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. Saturday the 29th is pretty ordinary with a light cross breeze and a weak 3ft SSW swell that’s got no power behind it. Not worth paddlin’ out for. Then things take a wild turn on Sunday the 30th. We’ve got a big pulse of 10ft SW swell comin’ in with a deep 13-second period, and the combined energy is through the roof at 3685. That’s a serious amount of water movin’ around. Problem is, it’s just too much for Clifton Beach – that’s expert-only territory and even then, the morning light cross-shore wind won’t help. The afternoon though, that’s a different story. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore, the swell drops to a still-chunky 8ft, and the numbers say it’s excellent for experienced surfers. That Sunday afternoon surf is the real standout of the whole run – if you’ve got the skills, that’s your session.
After that, Monday the 31st sees the swell drop into the 6ft to 8ft range, but the wind is messy and the conditions are marginal. Tides are likely workin’ against us. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of September see the swell fade right down to under 3ft, with clean winds but no real energy to speak of. That’s a quiet spell right through until Friday the 5th.
Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th bring a bit of lift, with the swell building back to 4ft on Saturday afternoon, but the wind is offshore and clean. The energy is still weak though, around the 700 mark, so it’s more of a longboard or funboard kinda day. Nothing to get excited about.
Then from Sunday the 7th right through to Saturday the 13th, it’s a bleak stretch. Lots of onshore winds, short-period junk, and tiny swell. Most days the combined energy is below 500, which is barely a ripple. The wind is often howlin’ from the southwest, makin’ it proper choppy and ugly.
But then, hold onto your board. On Sunday the 13th of September, the forecast lights up again. We’ve got a clean 4ft SSW groundswell rollin’ in with a long 17-second period and a light offshore breeze. The combined energy hits 1021 – moderate but solid. The model is callin’ for very good surf conditions. That’s a promising one to circle on the calendar, though it’s a way off yet, so don’t lock it in just yet. If it holds, that’ll be a beauty of a morning session.
Honestly, for this stretch, if you’re a beginner, stay clear of that Sunday the 30th swell. If you’re advanced, that Sunday afternoon is your best shot. The rest of the window is a lot of small, clean but weak days, or blown-out mess.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
378 | 501 | 2703 | 3112 | 2254 | 534 | 475 | 1176 | 677 | 280 | 167 | 239 | 280 | 776 | 411 | 610 | 530 | 361 | 589 | 669 | 688 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 7:10PM0.61m | 8:29AM0.51m | 8:11PM0.57m | 9:07AM0.55m | 9:22PM0.52m | 9:46AM0.59m | 10:41PM0.48m | 10:30AM0.63m | 00:06AM0.45m | 11:18AM0.67m | 1:31AM0.44m | 12:10PM0.70m | 2:48AM0.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:53PM0.31m | 2:07AM0.17m | 2:05PM0.28m | 2:43AM0.21m | 3:19PM0.25m | 3:21AM0.25m | 4:32PM0.20m | 4:01AM0.29m | 5:43PM0.15m | 4:44AM0.33m | 6:50PM0.10m | 5:32AM0.36m | 7:55PM0.06m | ||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SE 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
378 | 501 | 883 | 752 | 555 | 534 | 475 | 361 | 677 | 280 | 167 | 239 | 280 | 776 | 411 | 610 | 5 | 361 | 589 | 669 | 688 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | — | — | E 9 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | — | S 10 | S 9 | S 18 | S 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | — | NE 11 | S 11 | — | — | NE 7 |
9 | 9 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 125 | 326 | — | 31 | 14 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 5 | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | NNE 7 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — |
— | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | — | WSW 4 | SSW 14 | — | NNW 3 | NW 3 | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | WSW 5 | SSW 14 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 3 |
1 | 2614 | 2703 | 3112 | 2254 | — | 5 | 1176 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 530 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 85 | 544 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 4 | 36 | 36 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Coast of Tasmania | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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











