
Surf Forecasts:
Clifton Beach surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SSW swell with 2,999 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period with S 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 (Jul 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 11s 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s do this in feet and Fahrenheit.
We’re looking at a pretty quiet start with a few small, clean waves, but the real standout is a solid pulse of swell lined up down the track. The first few days are small and clean but nothing to get too excited about.
Sunday the 19th kicks off with some small south swell, around 2.3 feet, coming from the south with an 11-second period. The wind is light offshore from the north-northwest, so it’s clean. The combined energy is weak (191), so you’re looking at small, tidy waves. The water is sitting at 52.5°F, which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year.
Monday the 20th is smaller again, dropping to 1 foot, but the period stretches out to 16 seconds, which is very long. That’s a groundswell. The wind stays offshore in the morning, so it’s clean, but at that size, it’s barely a ripple. Combined energy drops to 69—very weak. The afternoon sees a bit of cross-off wind, but still small.
Tuesday the 21st picks up a little, with 2 feet of south-southwest swell, 14-second period, and light offshore winds all day. The combined energy is moderate (130 in the morning, 106 in the afternoon). Clean, but small.
Wednesday the 22nd is more of the same—1.3 feet to 1.6 feet, clean in the morning, but the afternoon gets messy with a cross-shore wind and rain showers. Not worth the paddle.
Thursday the 23rd sees a jump in swell—3.9 feet from the south-southwest, 13-second period, but the wind is howling from the west at 40 km/h, creating a strong cross-shore chop. Combined energy is strong (497 morning, 909 afternoon), but it’s blown out. This is more a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.
Friday the 24th is a proper standout. The morning delivers 7.9 feet of south-southwest swell with a 15-second period, and the wind is cross-off from the west-northwest at 35 km/h. The combined energy is very strong (2578). That’s a serious swell, but it’s solid—over 8 feet, so this is for experienced surfers only. The afternoon gets messy with strong cross-shore wind, so the morning is the window.
The weekend from Saturday the 25th to Sunday the 26th drops off quickly. Saturday has 2 feet to 4.3 feet, but the wind swings cross-onshore, making it choppy and poor. Sunday brings 4.6 feet to 5.9 feet, but the wind is strong, up to 50 km/h, with near-gale conditions in the afternoon. No good.
Monday the 27th is still blown out. 6.2 feet to 8.2 feet of south swell, but the wind is strong cross-onshore. The combined energy is very strong (1247 morning, 3353 afternoon), but it’s not rideable.
Now, Tuesday the 28th is the real gem. The morning has 6.2 feet of south swell, 13-second period, with light offshore wind from the north-northwest at just 10 km/h. Combined energy is strong (1299). The afternoon drops to 5.2 feet with a gentle cross-off breeze. This is the best day on offer—clean, solid, and good for experienced surfers. The wind is light, the swell is substantial, and the conditions are described as “very good.” This is the one to circle.
Wednesday the 29th fades to 3.3 feet from the southeast, with fresh cross-off wind, but the combined energy drops to moderate (345). Not a standout.
Thursday the 30th is small again, 3 feet of southeast swell, with light cross-off wind. The combined energy is moderate (343). It’s clean, but small.
Friday the 31st brings a bit of south-southwest swell at 4.6 feet, but the period is short—only 8 seconds. The wind is offshore, so it’s clean, but the short period means softer, less powerful waves. Combined energy is moderate (305).
Saturday the 1st of August is similar: 3.3 feet from the south, 9-second period, moderate offshore wind. Clean but small.
Sunday the 2nd of August sees a bump to 5.2 feet from the south-southeast, 12-second period, with moderate wind in the morning. The combined energy is strong (892). The afternoon gets messy with strong cross-onshore wind.
Monday the 3rd of August is small again—2 feet of south-southwest swell, but the period is very long at 20 seconds. That’s a groundswell, but at that size, it’s long walls with long waits. The wind is offshore, so it’s clean, but the combined energy
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri morning, min 4°C on Thu afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Thu morning, light winds from the SSW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 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) | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
121 | 86 | 57 | 48 | 42 | 70 | 123 | 99 | 61 | 61 | 95 | 378 | 468 | 447 | 2011 | 2578 | 2127 | 273 | 131 | 429 | 213 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 2:17PM0.66m | 4:29AM0.35m | 2:56PM0.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:37AM0.32m | 10:16PM0.18m | 7:14AM0.33m | 10:57PM0.15m | ||||||||
7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
— | 4:57 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | 4 | 2 | 7 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 1 | -6 | -3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | NW 5 | — | S 9 | S 10 | — | S 12 |
121 | 86 | 33 | 21 | 42 | 70 | 123 | 99 | 61 | 61 | 95 | 378 | 468 | 447 | 2011 | 1 | — | 235 | 117 | — | 213 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 16 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SSW 16 | ESE 14 | SW 6 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | SSW 17 | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | SSE 14 |
40 | 38 | 33 | 48 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 433 | — | — | — | 273 | 131 | — | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 18 | SSW 17 | ESE 14 | S 10 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 |
30 | 26 | 57 | 19 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 86 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 3 | N 3 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | SW 4 | W 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | W 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | — | NW 3 | SSW 12 | WSW 4 |
— | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 19 | 12 | 29 | 29 | 19 | 2578 | 2127 | — | 1 | 429 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 140 | 0 | 584 | 14 | 584 | 729 | 681 | 8 | 8 | 224 | 14 |
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










