Surf Forecasts:
Clifton Beach surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 18s period, SSW swell with 11,692 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. 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 4.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 12s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Clifton Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here, talking Clifton Beach.
Water temp is about 54°F, pretty much normal for this time of year, nothing to write home about.
Looking at the next 16 days, there’s some surf to be had, but there are also some long, empty stretches where you’ll be watching the horizon do nothing. The first real chance to get a wave is Friday morning, the 4th of September. We’ve got a 6ft SSW swell with a long 17-second period, packing a strong 1630 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a cross-off from the WNW at 15 mph, so it’ll be clean. It’s a bit punchy for beginners, but for the rest of us, this is the pick of the week.
Saturday morning, the 5th, drops to 3ft, but with a light 6 mph cross-off from the NNW, it’ll be glassy. The period is still a solid 17 seconds, so the quality is there.
Then the wheels fall off. From Saturday afternoon all the way through the second week, the surf gets chewed up by wind, or just disappears. There’s a massive pulse on the 9th of September – 15ft from the SSW with a staggering 18993 combined energy (strong wave energy) – but the wind is a near-gale from the SW, turning it into a total washing machine. That’s a kite-surfing day, not a surfing day.
The only other real standout is Thursday morning, the 10th of September. A 8ft swell from the south with a long 18-second period, and light WNW winds at 6 mph. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and that’s the truth. It’s big, powerful, and clean, but strictly for the experts.
The rest of the run is flat. From the 11th to the 17th, we’re looking at tiny 1ft to 3ft waves, with strong, messy winds. Some days the combined energy is in the double digits, which is just a lake. The last week is a total bust.
So, here’s the deal: Friday the 4th is your best all-rounder. Thursday the 10th is the big, meaty standout for the experienced crew. Everything else? Maybe just wax the board and wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Wed morning, near gales from the W by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat afternoon, light winds from the S by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 5 | SSW 7 | S 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
580 | 661 | 474 | 411 | 636 | 1065 | 1630 | 1484 | 1073 | 625 | 362 | 869 | 81 | 54 | 34 | 65 | 123 | 192 | 326 | 307 | 806 | |
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 | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 10:30AM0.63m | 00:06AM0.45m | 11:18AM0.67m | 1:31AM0.44m | 12:10PM0.70m | 2:48AM0.43m | 1:05PM0.72m | 3:55AM0.43m | 2:02PM0.74m | 4:51AM0.43m | 2:58PM0.74m | 5:38AM0.43m | 3:54PM0.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:43PM0.15m | 4:44AM0.33m | 6:50PM0.10m | 5:32AM0.36m | 7:55PM0.06m | 6:23AM0.37m | 8:56PM0.03m | 7:18AM0.38m | 9:53PM0.02m | 8:15AM0.38m | 10:47PM0.03m | 9:15AM0.37m | 11:36PM0.05m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 8 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | -1 | -3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | NE 8 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 22 | S 20 | SSW 8 | SSW 18 | SW 13 | SSW 16 |
580 | 661 | 474 | 411 | 636 | 1065 | 1630 | 1484 | 1073 | 625 | 362 | 3 | 75 | 54 | 16 | 9 | 72 | 50 | 326 | 170 | 806 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | NE 8 | SE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | — | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | — | — | S 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SE 12 |
14 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 81 | 50 | 34 | — | — | 192 | 96 | 307 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | — | — | S 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | NE 9 | — | — | — | SW 12 | SW 13 | SE 14 | — |
5 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 35 | 61 | 7 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 3 | N 3 | WSW 4 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 4 | NW 3 | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | WSW 4 | SW 15 | SW 9 | — | — | SW 5 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | WSW 4 |
— | 1 | 4 | 33 | 44 | 50 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 869 | 141 | — | — | 65 | 123 | — | — | — | 15 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 4 | 6 | 584 | 580 | 85 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 33 | 224 | 36 | 4 | 36 | 85 | 580 |
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











