Surf Forecasts:
Clifton Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,494 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 18s. 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 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) 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 1.3m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s coming up at Clifton Beach. We’ve got a pretty lackluster start to the forecast, to be honest. For the first day, 21st August, there’s barely a ripple, with a tiny 1.0ft SSW swell and not much energy behind it. The wind is cross-off but it’s just not doing anything for us. We’ll be waiting until the Sunday morning on 23rd August before things start to get a little interesting. You’ll have to sit through a few days of near-nothing before that.
So, come Sunday 23rd August, we finally see a pulse of swell arriving. The morning is still a bit flat with 4ft and a cross-off wind, but the real standout is Sunday afternoon. The swell pushes up to 4ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, giving it some nice, long lines. The wind swings light and cross-off, making for clean conditions. This is the one to circle on the calendar.
Monday 24th through to Wednesday 26th is a bit of a mixed bag. Monday morning drops off to 3ft, but the wind stays cross-off, so you might find a workable wave if you’re keen. Tuesday morning looks alright too with a clean 3ft and light offshore winds. But the tide and conditions turn pretty ordinary by Tuesday afternoon, and Wednesday is a write-off with onshore wind and a choppy, messy surface.
There’s another little flicker on the 28th August – Friday morning shows 3ft from the SSW with a long 18-second period and clean offshore winds from the NNW. It’s not big, but it’s tidy. Then we’ve got a dead period for most of the 30th and 31st.
Looking into early September, the 1st of September Tuesday morning offers a clean 3ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and light offshore winds. That’s a solid, clean option if you’re chasing some mellow waves. Water temperature is sitting around 52°F, which is about 1°F cooler than average for this time of year – nothing too unusual, but you’ll still want a thick wetsuit.
The standout for the whole period is undoubtedly that Sunday 23rd August afternoon session. That’s your best chance at some clean, punchy lines in the 4ft range.
Crowds are often a factor at Clifton Beach, so expect company, especially on that Sunday afternoon when the surf looks decent.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sat morning, light winds from the NW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon night, fresh winds from the SE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSE 7 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
72 | 65 | 302 | 1494 | 1350 | 773 | 613 | 843 | 423 | 356 | 351 | 407 | 307 | 176 | 154 | 154 | 212 | 192 | 93 | 62 | 286 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 12:49PM0.63m | 3:25AM0.36m | 1:33PM0.65m | 4:08AM0.37m | 2:19PM0.67m | 4:47AM0.37m | 3:06PM0.68m | 5:26AM0.38m | 3:52PM0.69m | 6:04AM0.39m | 4:39PM0.69m | 6:42AM0.41m | 5:26PM0.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:50PM0.18m | 6:01AM0.35m | 9:33PM0.16m | 6:56AM0.35m | 10:15PM0.14m | 7:51AM0.35m | 10:57PM0.13m | 8:45AM0.34m | 11:38PM0.12m | 9:41AM0.34m | 00:18AM0.12m | 10:41AM0.33m | 00:55AM0.12m | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 5 | -1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 24 | S 21 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 19 |
47 | 65 | 302 | 11 | 9 | 773 | 613 | 749 | 423 | 356 | 351 | 407 | 307 | 176 | 75 | 119 | 212 | 192 | 93 | 62 | 286 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SW 14 | E 8 | S 24 | — | S 20 | S 17 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | E 15 | E 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | SSW 11 |
72 | 33 | 1 | 11 | — | 67 | 293 | 843 | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 56 | 154 | 21 | 44 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 42 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 15 | E 15 | — | S 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 22 | E 8 |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | — | 28 | 30 | 25 | 21 | 45 | 19 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | WSW 5 | WNW 3 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | W 4 | WNW 3 | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | — | SW 5 | — | — | — |
1 | 4 | 2 | 1494 | 1350 | 12 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 85 | 154 | — | 21 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 36 | 11 | 571 | 571 | 14 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 92 | 321 | 226 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
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











