Frenchmans Reef surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Thursday 12 Feb 2026 AEDT
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
23.3° 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 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Feb 12) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Frenchmans Reef in the next 12 days are 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Feb 12) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Feb 19) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Thu 12th Feb)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 12th Feb)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 12th Feb)10ft (3.0m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Frenchmans Reef over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu afternoon, light winds from the E by Sat night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
12
Friday
13
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.9
ENE
2.4
S
2.5
SSE
2
SSE
1.3
S
1
S
1
E
1.1
E
1.2
E
1.2
E
1.3
E
1.1
E
0.6
S
1.1
E
0.9
E
0.6
ESE
0.9
E
1.4
ENE
0.9
ENE
1.2
ENE
1
ENE
Period(s) (?)7799887777771166666666
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)705621047613208117921131271341541078794672661136609375
Wind
(km/h)
20
S
35
S
25
SSE
15
SE
15
SE
15
E
20
ESE
20
E
15
E
20
E
20
E
10
ESE
15
E
15
ESE
10
NE
10
ENE
25
ENE
10
NNE
10
NW
20
ENE
30
SSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
ononononononcross-
on
ononcross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
6:04PM
0.73
6:08AM
1.17
7:01PM
0.79
6:54AM
1.25
7:43PM
0.87
7:36AM
1.33
8:21PM
0.96
8:16AM
1.40
8:57PM
1.05
8:55AM
1.45
9:33PM
1.13
9:35AM
1.47
10:09PM
1.20
Low Tide
/ height (m)
12:22PM
0.40
11:04PM
0.44
1:08PM
0.32
12:03AM
0.41
1:46PM
0.24
12:56AM
0.36
2:21PM
0.16
1:44AM
0.31
2:55PM
0.10
2:29AM
0.25
3:30PM
0.06
3:13AM
0.20
4:04PM
0.05
3:57AM
0.18
Thursday
12
Friday
13
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Sunrise6:24--6:26--6:26--6:28--6:28--6:30--6:31--
Sunset-7:47--7:46--7:45--7:45--7:44--7:43--7:42-
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
--2-----221-31-------
Temp. °C242220212121212221212222212221212322293127
Feels °C (?)231815181819181919192021202020212119272926
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Frenchmans Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Frenchmans Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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 12 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest