Frenchmans Reef surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 pm Tuesday 19 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
20.9° 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 Tuesday (May 19) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Frenchmans Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (May 25) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Tue 19th May)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Tue 19th May)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 1PM (Wed 20th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Mon morning).

Tue
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
!
3
!
!
!
!
!
!
0
0
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2
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)
2.4
ENE
10
1.8
ENE
10
3
S
9
2.5
S
10
2.5
S
10
2.5
S
9
3
S
8
2.2
SSE
8
2
SSE
8
2.2
SE
8
2.2
SE
10
2.2
ESE
10
2.4
ESE
11
2.4
E
11
2.1
E
11
2.1
E
11
2.1
E
12
1.9
E
11
1.8
E
11
2.3
S
8
1.4
E
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1152
721
1360
1198
1373
1190
1046
585
496
634
936
990
1245
1465
999
1011
1204
904
811
716
501
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
15
SW
15
SW
30
S
20
SW
30
SSW
30
S
20
S
25
SSE
25
SSE
20
S
20
SSE
5
ENE
5
WNW
5
W
10
NE
10
WNW
15
S
35
SSE
20
SSE
25
SSE
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
High Tide
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
3:23PM1.13m
3:13AM1.23m
4:19PM1.21m
4:18AM1.18m
Low Tide
5:09AM0.16m
4:31PM0.43m
6:06AM0.20m
5:32PM0.49m
7:03AM0.24m
6:39PM0.53m
8:00AM0.28m
7:52PM0.55m
8:55AM0.31m
9:06PM0.54m
9:46AM0.33m
10:17PM0.50m
10:32AM0.34m
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
4:59
4:59
4:58
4:58
4:57
4:57
4:55
3
2
1
1
4
3
3
1
1
3
4
2
1
16
15
1
Temp °C
18
16
16
17
16
17
17
17
17
18
18
19
18
18
19
19
17
16
18
18
18
17
14
12
11
11
12
11
13
12
14
14
19
18
19
19
19
16
11
12
14
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
ENE
10
1.8
ENE
10
2.4
S
9
1.4
ENE
10
2.3
S
10
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
1
E
10
0.9
E
9
0.3
S
14
2.2
SE
10
2.2
ESE
10
2.4
ESE
11
2.4
E
11
2.1
E
11
2.1
E
11
2.1
E
12
1.9
E
11
1.8
E
11
1.5
E
11
1.9
S
8
Energy kJ
1152
721
1014
418
1004
240
200
183
137
33
936
990
1245
1465
999
1011
1204
904
811
544
501
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
E
10
1.2
E
10
0.2
S
15
0.5
S
14
0.4
SSW
12
0.3
S
9
0.4
S
8
0.3
S
8
0.1
S
15
0.2
S
8
0.1
S
18
0.2
S
16
0.5
S
14
1.4
E
11
Energy kJ
541
296
18
94
44
14
22
10
4
5
6
20
102
491
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
8
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
11
0.4
S
13
Energy kJ
20
4
7
4
2
55
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
3
2.2
S
8
3
S
9
2.5
S
10
2.5
S
10
2.5
S
9
3
S
8
2.2
SSE
8
2
SSE
8
2.2
SE
8
0.4
SSW
8
0.8
SSW
4
1.4
SSE
6
2.2
S
8
2.3
S
8
Energy kJ
6
638
1360
1198
1373
1190
1046
585
496
634
24
16
160
535
716
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
4
4
1
4
3
2
3
3
3
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
4
3
Distance (km)
0
2
21
74
13
23
119
14
157
145
67
23
7
0
0
24
0
13
130
148
145
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
1
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
5
5
5
7
5
9
7
6
4
4
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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