Surf Forecasts:
Clifton Beach surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 999 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 19s 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 (Aug 21) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. 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 1.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 4PM. 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 15s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s call it straight—Clifton Beach has a slow start, with a long gap of flat, poor surf from now until the morning of Friday, August 23rd. Then a few solid windows pop up if you’re willing to wait.
Water temp is 52°, about 1° cooler than average for the time of year—nothing drastic, just a bit nippy.
The first real hope is Friday morning, August 23rd. We’re looking at a tiny 0.3ft SSW swell, 19-second period—very long period groundswell, but it’s barely pushing through, with combined energy at 121 (weak). Light cross-off wind from the NW, so it’s clean, but the waves are ordinary. Not a highlight.
Saturday August 24th sees a jump to 4ft SSW swell in the morning, building to 5ft by afternoon. Period holds at 16 seconds, and combined energy is strong (642–1001). But the wind is a cross-shore from the W at 12–16 mph, putting a cross-chop on the surface. This is messy, and at 5ft, it’s too much for beginners. In my book, this is a kite-surfing day, not a clean paddle session.
Sunday August 25th morning: 3ft SSW swell, 13-second period, combined energy 498 (moderate). Winds from the WNW at 12 mph, cross-off, so it’s clean. The afternoon drops to 3ft, wind lightens to 9 mph, energy 367. Surfable, but nothing special.
The standout—and I mean the one to mark on your calendar—is Friday morning, August 30th. Clifton Beach gets a 4ft SSW swell, 18-second period, combined energy of 851 (strong). The wind is glassy—dead calm, 3 mph from the NNE. That’s as clean as it gets. Long period groundswell, so expect good shape with long lulls between sets. This is the best session on offer. It’s a beginner-plus spot, so 4ft is fine for most, but the long period adds a bit more punch.
The next morning, Saturday August 31st, is also a beauty. 4ft SSW swell, 14-second period, combined energy 687 (strong), and again glassy conditions in the morning with a 3 mph SW breeze. Two mornings in a row of clean, lined-up surf. The afternoon on Saturday turns ugly—6ft, but onshore wind from the S at 9 mph, which chops it up badly. That’s expert-only territory, but the wind kills it.
Sunday September 1st morning: 5ft S swell, 11-second period, combined energy 607 (strong). Offshore wind from the NNW at 6 mph—clean, but the swell is pushing big for beginners. The afternoon is a ripper: 6ft S swell, 11 seconds, combined energy 1167 (very strong), with light cross-off winds from the ENE at 6 mph. That’s a big, powerful, clean day—only for experienced surfers, but a cracker if you’ve got the skills.
After that, Monday September 2nd morning drops to 3ft S swell, 9 seconds, combined energy 340 (weak), but it’s clean with light offshore N winds. A nice recovery session, but nothing special.
The second week fades out. Tuesday September 3rd and Wednesday September 4th see small 2–2ft SSW swells, periods around 14–18 seconds, combined energy 145–264 (weak). Winds are offshore or glassy, so it’s clean but tiny. Thursday September 5th is a write-off with onshore winds and messy conditions.
My call: Friday morning August 30th is the standout—glassy, 4ft, groundswell, clean as a whistle. Saturday morning August 31st is a close second with glassy conditions and 4ft. Be patient, the first week is a bust, but that second week has some magic.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | S 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
48 | 48 | 26 | 30 | 27 | 61 | 72 | 65 | 487 | 635 | 999 | 485 | 342 | 235 | 590 | 81 | 141 | 95 | 87 | 85 | 79 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on |
High Tide | 11:36AM0.59m | 1:25AM0.37m | 12:10PM0.61m | 2:33AM0.36m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:21PM0.23m | 4:43AM0.34m | 8:07PM0.20m | 5:14AM0.35m | 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 | ||||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 12 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | ENE 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
48 | 48 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 61 | 48 | 65 | 487 | 635 | 999 | 485 | 342 | 235 | 297 | 81 | 141 | 95 | 87 | 85 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | ENE 6 | E 6 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 | E 8 | — | — | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | S 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
1 | 7 | 21 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 72 | 21 | 1 | — | — | 188 | 156 | 132 | 590 | 68 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 21 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 8 | S 18 | S 13 | SW 13 | SW 5 | SW 5 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | — | NE 7 | E 14 | E 16 | SE 16 |
— | 1 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | NE 3 | NNE 3 | N 3 | — | — | NNW 3 | SW 4 | W 3 | W 4 | W 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | SW 4 | — | SSW 3 | S 7 |
4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 7 | — | 3 | 79 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 224 | 452 | 8 |
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











