Frenchmans Reef surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 am Sunday 17 May 2026 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Frenchmans Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Frenchmans Reef sea temperature is
21.0° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Frenchmans Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Frenchmans Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Frenchmans Reef in the next 16 days are 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 22) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (May 19) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Sun 17th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Best Surf 4PM (Sun 17th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Most Powerful 1AM (Fri 22nd May)16ft (5.0m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Frenchmans Reef over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
!
!
3
3
2
!
!
2
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
E
9
2.1
E
9
2.2
E
9
2
E
9
2
ENE
9
1.7
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
9
2.3
E
10
2
E
10
3
S
10
3.5
S
10
3.5
S
11
3.5
S
12
4
S
13
5
S
12
4
S
12
4
S
11
2.5
SSE
10
1.9
SSE
9
1.4
SSE
8
1
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
627
707
794
646
586
484
1015
1005
865
1975
2518
3518
4168
4967
8155
4459
3262
1194
534
277
188
Wind (km/h)
10
N
10
ENE
10
NNW
5
N
5
SE
5
SW
10
WSW
15
WSW
30
SW
30
SSW
30
S
25
SSW
25
SW
25
SSW
20
WSW
30
SW
35
SSW
20
SW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
WNW
cross
on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
8:33PM1.67m
9:16AM1.15m
9:21PM1.67m
10:09AM1.09m
10:11PM1.63m
11:06AM1.05m
11:04PM1.57m
12:06PM1.02m
00:00AM1.48m
1:10PM1.02m
1:01AM1.39m
2:18PM1.06m
2:06AM1.30m
Low Tide
2:00PM0.30m
3:19AM0.13m
2:47PM0.33m
4:13AM0.13m
3:37PM0.38m
5:09AM0.16m
4:31PM0.43m
6:06AM0.20m
5:32PM0.49m
7:03AM0.24m
6:39PM0.53m
8:00AM0.28m
7:52PM0.55m
part cloud
thunderstorm
light rain
light rain
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:00
5:00
4:59
4:59
4:58
4:58
1
2
1
1
9
1
1
5
2
5
Temp °C
20
20
19
19
19
17
17
17
16
18
17
16
17
17
16
16
17
15
18
18
16
20
20
20
20
20
17
17
15
11
12
10
11
12
12
11
10
11
10
15
15
14
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
E
9
2.1
E
9
2.2
E
9
2
E
9
2
ENE
9
1.7
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
9
2.3
E
10
2
E
10
2.5
S
10
1.5
E
10
3.5
S
11
3.5
S
12
4
S
13
4.5
S
12
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
2.5
SSE
10
1.9
SSE
9
1.4
SSE
8
1
E
10
Energy kJ
627
707
794
646
586
484
1015
1005
865
1375
496
3518
4168
4967
6042
71
71
1194
534
277
188
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
16
1.7
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.2
E
10
1.1
E
10
0.9
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.7
ESE
8
1
SSE
8
Energy kJ
5
620
360
308
255
161
70
65
51
127
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
E
9
0.3
S
15
Energy kJ
44
42
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
3
2.4
SSW
8
3
S
10
3.5
S
10
5
S
12
4
S
12
4
S
11
Energy kJ
7
637
1975
2518
8155
4459
3262
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
4
1
1
7
1
4
3
2
2
Distance (km)
2
58
0
0
0
0
0
13
67
67
198
67
43
23
20
43
163
13
13
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
1
9
7
4
3
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
8
9
9
9
9
5
4
4
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
6
7
4
5
4
5
4
4
4
5
8
9
9
9
5
4
4
5
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Frenchmans Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Frenchmans Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Frenchmans Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Frenchmans Reef 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 (Frenchmans Reef) 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 Frenchmans Reef 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.

Frenchmans Reef is 8 km (5 miles) from the city of Catherine Hill Bay. If you plan a holiday in Newcastle, look for hotels and other accommodation in Catherine Hill Bay. Catherine Hill Bay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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