Frenchmans Reef surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Monday 18 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 Monday (May 18) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) 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 1.4m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (May 19) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Mon 18th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Best Surf 1PM (Mon 18th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Most Powerful10PM (Wed 20th May)10ft (3.0m) 9s

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 34mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Fri morning, light winds from the SW by Sat night).

Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
3
!
!
3
!
0
!
!
!
!
0
0
0
!
!
2
2
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
8
1.9
ENE
9
2.2
ENE
9
2.2
E
10
1.9
ENE
10
2.5
S
8
3
S
9
3
S
9
2.5
S
9
2.5
S
8
2.5
S
8
2.4
SSE
8
2.4
SSE
8
2.3
SSE
9
2.2
SE
9
2.1
SE
9
2
ESE
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.3
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
724
931
542
807
961
769
958
1252
1204
1157
980
947
800
782
773
822
763
741
384
332
339
Wind (km/h)
5
NNW
10
S
5
SW
5
WNW
15
SW
25
SW
30
SSW
35
S
30
S
25
S
35
SSW
30
S
35
S
40
S
35
S
25
SSW
30
SSW
25
SW
15
SW
25
SSW
15
SSW
glassy
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
3:23PM1.13m
3:13AM1.23m
Low Tide
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
8:55AM0.31m
9:06PM0.54m
light rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:00
4:59
4:59
4:58
4:58
4:57
1
4
7
1
3
6
4
8
4
2
1
4
2
2
2
Temp °C
19
18
17
17
18
17
18
18
17
18
18
17
18
18
18
18
18
17
19
18
18
21
18
18
18
16
14
11
11
11
12
12
11
10
11
13
14
14
13
16
15
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
ENE
9
2.1
ENE
9
1.9
ENE
9
2.2
ENE
9
2.2
E
10
1.9
ENE
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
ENE
10
1.3
E
10
1.2
E
10
1.2
E
10
1
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.7
E
9
0.6
E
10
2.2
SE
9
2.1
SE
9
2
ESE
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.3
E
10
Energy kJ
724
647
542
807
961
769
468
410
346
290
296
194
117
87
68
822
763
741
384
332
339
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
14
0.2
S
12
0.5
E
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.2
S
18
1.1
SE
9
0.8
SSE
8
0.1
S
11
Energy kJ
4
5
4
4
10
49
33
24
170
86
3
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
13
0.1
S
21
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
13
Energy kJ
14
8
4
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
ENE
8
0.4
SW
3
2.2
S
8
2.5
S
8
3
S
9
3
S
9
2.5
S
9
2.5
S
8
2.5
S
8
2.4
SSE
8
2.4
SSE
8
2.3
SSE
9
0.3
WNW
2
1.5
SSE
7
Energy kJ
931
3
558
958
1252
1204
1157
980
947
800
782
773
1
198
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
4
3
2
1
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
13
13
130
198
130
21
198
130
163
198
198
13
74
14
13
14
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
3
2
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
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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