
Surf Forecasts:
Clifton Beach surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, S swell with 1,778 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 17s period. The wind is predicted to be 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The next couple of weeks at Clifton Beach start off on the quiet side, but the real story here is a proper pulse of swell that builds towards the end of the month and into early August. We’ll have a few small, clean windows to tickle the shortboard, but the standout days are the ones you’ll want to block out in your calendar.
Right now, the swell is small but there’s a pulse of long-period groundswell rolling in. Friday the 17th morning sees a 4ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, which is proper long-period energy. The combined energy is moderate (928), and with a moderate offshore breeze from the NNW, it’s going to be clean. Water temp is about average for the time of year, so a steamer is fine. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but crowds are often here, so expect company. The afternoon drops off to 3ft, still clean, but less push.
Saturday (18th) and Sunday (19th) are smaller – 2ft to 2ft – with clean conditions but very ordinary waves. The period drops to 11-13 seconds, so it’s weaker. The combined energy is low (277 dropping to 125). It’s surfable for a beginner-plus, but nothing to get excited about.
Monday (20th) through Wednesday (22nd) are pretty dead. Swell heights drop to 0.7ft-2ft, and energy is weak (under 115). There’s a bit of a lull here. Not worth paddling out for.
Now, Thursday the 23rd is a bit of a warning. A 5ft SSW swell rolls in with a 15-second period, but the wind is howling from the SSW at 34 mph in the afternoon, making it a blown-out, cross-onshore mess. The morning is messy too with a cross-shore wind. The combined energy jumps to 975, but it’s not worth it for paddle surfing. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The real fun starts Friday the 24th. Morning brings a 4ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and a gentle offshore breeze from the NW. Clean, moderate energy (739), and the waves will have shape. This is a solid option for experienced surfers, but the crowds are likely.
Saturday the 25th is a glassy gem – 2ft, glassy conditions, and a 13-second period. Combined energy is low (221), but it’s clean. If you want a longboard or a log, this is your window. Sunday the 26th is small and messy again.
Now, here’s the standout. Monday the 27th morning: 4ft SSW swell, 16-second period, light offshore wind. Combined energy is 936. Clean, good shape. The afternoon sees a jump to 7ft, but the wind turns cross-shore and it gets a bit lumpy. That’s for the experts.
But the *real* highlight is Wednesday the 29th afternoon. The swell builds to 8ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the ENE. Combined energy is a massive 2849. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – clean, powerful, and long-period groundswell. The long period means it’ll be better focused at reefs and points, so keep that in mind if you’re surfing a beach break.
Thursday the 30th morning is also a cracker: 8ft, 16-second period, light offshore wind, and combined energy of 3222. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-onshore ripple, but it’s still solid. Friday the 31st morning is another epic: 8ft, 14-second period, gentle offshore, and combined energy of 3808. This is the peak of the swell. Only for experts.
After that, it drops off quickly. Saturday the 1st of August is back to small glassy waves (2ft). So, the best on offer is Wednesday the 29th afternoon through to Friday the 31st morning. That’s the window for big, clean, powerful SSW groundswell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SE 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | S 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
928 | 452 | 305 | 173 | 205 | 184 | 121 | 61 | 35 | 48 | 42 | 60 | 161 | 98 | 62 | 29 | 51 | 58 | 137 | 399 | 734 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:29AM0.44m | 8:56PM0.64m | 11:57AM0.47m | 9:49PM0.56m | 12:18PM0.50m | 10:45PM0.48m | 12:37PM0.53m | 11:47PM0.42m | 12:55PM0.57m | 00:58AM0.38m | 1:16PM0.60m | 2:14AM0.35m | 1:44PM0.63m | 3:25AM0.34m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:33PM0.41m | 4:45AM0.11m | 4:05PM0.40m | 5:14AM0.17m | 5:36PM0.38m | 5:33AM0.22m | 6:58PM0.34m | 5:44AM0.26m | 8:04PM0.29m | 5:54AM0.29m | 8:54PM0.25m | 6:10AM0.31m | 9:37PM0.21m | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | |
— | 4:55 | — | — | 4:57 | — | — | 4:57 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Feels °C | 6 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 2 | -1 | -3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | S 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
928 | 452 | 305 | 173 | 205 | 184 | 121 | 61 | 35 | 20 | 20 | 60 | 161 | 98 | 62 | 29 | 51 | 58 | 137 | 399 | 734 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 15 | SE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | ESE 17 | SE 16 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NNE 4 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SW 13 | E 10 | NE 9 |
— | 4 | 12 | 92 | 51 | 28 | 40 | 38 | 34 | 48 | 42 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 2 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 18 | — | SE 17 | SE 17 | S 21 | S 20 | S 18 | SSW 17 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | NE 11 | NE 11 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NE 10 | E 12 | E 12 | E 10 | — | — |
— | 6 | — | 12 | 11 | 9 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | NNW 2 | — | — | NNW 2 | — | NNW 2 | NW 3 | N 3 | WSW 4 | SW 7 | SW 7 | W 4 |
— | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 94 | 121 | 12 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 36 | 140 | 815 |
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










