Frenchmans Reef surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 pm Monday 11 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 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.7m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 11) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Saturday (May 16) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Fri 15th May)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 17th May)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Most Powerful10PM (Mon 11th May)5.5ft (1.7m) 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

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
11
Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
1
2
2
2
3
0
2
3
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)
1.5
SSE
11
1.7
SSE
12
1.7
SSE
11
1.6
SSE
10
1.6
SE
6
1.6
SE
7
1.6
SE
7
1.7
ESE
7
1.5
ESE
7
1.7
ESE
7
1.4
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.1
ESE
7
0.9
E
7
1.6
ESE
8
1.8
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.7
E
9
2
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
496
757
627
562
220
226
244
277
195
256
176
158
117
77
346
541
544
526
398
450
695
Wind (km/h)
15
ESE
15
SE
20
SE
25
SSE
20
SE
20
SE
25
SE
20
ESE
15
ESE
20
ESE
10
ESE
10
SSW
10
SSE
0
SW
10
SSW
5
SE
10
NNE
5
NNW
15
ENE
5
WNW
0
SW
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
3:46AM1.23m
4:47PM1.23m
4:47AM1.25m
5:32PM1.35m
5:45AM1.26m
6:17PM1.47m
6:39AM1.25m
7:01PM1.57m
7:32AM1.23m
7:46PM1.64m
8:24AM1.20m
8:33PM1.67m
9:16AM1.15m
Low Tide
9:40PM0.56m
10:17AM0.33m
10:43PM0.48m
11:02AM0.31m
11:41PM0.38m
11:47AM0.29m
00:37AM0.29m
12:30PM0.28m
1:31AM0.21m
1:15PM0.28m
2:25AM0.16m
2:00PM0.30m
3:19AM0.13m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:33
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:37
6:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:04
5:04
5:02
5:01
5:01
5:00
5:00
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
2
1
6
Temp °C
20
20
19
19
19
19
20
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
18
19
19
20
20
18
19
18
18
15
15
15
15
16
16
17
16
17
18
18
19
18
20
18
20
19
18
19
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SSE
11
1.7
SSE
12
0.7
E
12
0.7
E
12
0.8
S
10
0.7
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.6
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.4
S
9
1.4
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.1
ESE
7
0.9
E
7
1.6
ESE
8
1.8
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.7
E
9
2
E
9
Energy kJ
496
757
143
138
127
98
125
68
81
28
176
158
117
77
346
541
544
526
398
450
695
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
E
13
0.9
E
13
0.1
N
9
0.3
SSE
14
0.5
E
12
0.4
E
11
0.4
E
11
0.3
E
11
0.3
E
10
0.2
E
11
0.5
S
9
0.4
S
9
0.5
S
9
0.6
SE
7
0.1
SE
13
0.3
S
8
0.2
S
8
Energy kJ
277
268
2
36
68
39
38
21
19
9
41
27
41
43
7
12
5
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
S
14
0.1
N
9
0.1
N
10
0.1
S
25
0.2
S
21
0.3
S
18
0.3
S
15
0.3
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.4
S
9
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
13
Energy kJ
239
2
2
12
35
54
42
19
8
16
16
26
25
6
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
SSE
11
1.6
SSE
10
1.6
SE
6
1.6
SE
7
1.6
SE
7
1.7
ESE
7
1.5
ESE
7
1.7
ESE
7
0.3
SW
2
Energy kJ
627
562
220
226
244
277
195
256
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
3
1
1
3
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
74
23
190
237
163
263
263
248
22
163
21
0
13
0
0
13
9
0
52
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
3
4
3
5
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
9
9
9
9
9
7
8
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
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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