Frenchmans Reef surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 pm Thursday 14 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
21.1° 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 Friday (May 15) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Frenchmans Reef in the next 16 days are 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 21) at 10PM. 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 Wednesday (May 20) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Fri 15th May)4ft (1.2m) 7s
Best Surf 4PM (Tue 19th May)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful10PM (Thu 21st May)15ft (4.5m) 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

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Tue morning, light winds from the SW by Wed morning).

Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thu
21
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
0
2
2
1
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.6
E
8
1.5
E
8
1.8
E
9
2
E
9
1.9
E
9
1.9
ENE
9
1.7
E
9
1.7
E
9
2.4
ENE
8
2.2
ENE
9
3
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
10
3
S
8
3.5
S
10
4
S
11
3
S
11
2.5
S
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
135
139
154
178
316
309
471
609
542
599
465
455
771
784
1206
1163
1114
2243
3980
2135
1459
Wind (km/h)
5
ENE
15
SW
10
SE
5
W
10
SW
10
ESE
10
NNE
10
NNW
25
NE
20
NE
20
NNE
20
NNE
30
NNE
40
NNE
20
N
20
WNW
20
W
15
SSW
25
SW
30
SW
40
SSW
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
6:39AM1.25m
7:01PM1.57m
7:32AM1.23m
7:46PM1.64m
8:24AM1.20m
8:33PM1.67m
9:16AM1.15m
9:21PM1.67m
10:09AM1.09m
10:11PM1.63m
11:06AM1.05m
11:04PM1.57m
12:06PM1.02m
Low Tide
00:37AM0.29m
12:30PM0.28m
1:31AM0.21m
1:15PM0.28m
2:25AM0.16m
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
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
heavy rain
mod rain
thunderstorm
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:37
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:01
5:01
5:00
5:00
5:00
4:59
4:59
3
1
2
14
7
2
1
4
1
Temp °C
19
19
19
19
18
19
19
21
21
19
21
21
18
19
20
17
19
19
16
17
17
18
18
18
20
19
20
19
20
18
17
18
19
13
16
18
13
17
17
11
10
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.6
E
8
1.5
E
8
1.8
E
9
2
E
9
1.9
E
9
1.9
ENE
9
1.7
E
9
1.7
E
9
2.1
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
10
2.2
ENE
10
2.1
ENE
10
1.9
ENE
10
3
S
11
2.2
S
11
Energy kJ
135
139
154
178
316
309
471
609
542
599
465
455
632
1163
942
872
740
2135
1096
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
S
9
0.5
S
9
0.5
S
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
S
9
0.1
S
13
0.2
S
8
0.1
S
15
1.9
ENE
10
2
E
11
Energy kJ
61
41
41
28
25
3
5
5
740
951
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
10
0.1
S
16
0.2
E
9
0.1
S
14
0.1
SE
13
0.1
S
16
Energy kJ
8
5
7
4
7
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
ENE
8
2.2
ENE
9
3
ENE
9
3
S
8
3.5
S
10
4
S
11
2.5
S
11
Energy kJ
771
784
1206
1114
2243
3980
1459
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
3
2
4
Distance (km)
0
0
14
0
0
22
9
0
113
58
58
58
264
399
11
0
0
0
67
270
263
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
4
5
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
3
4
5
4
4
4
3
3
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
7
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
7
6
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
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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