Surf Forecasts:
Friendly Beaches surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 7s period, NNE swell with 512 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 12s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Friendly Beaches this week:
The surf forecast for Friendly Beaches over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Friendly Beaches in the next 16 days are 2.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Friendly Beaches over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at Friendly Beaches.
Right off the bat, it's a bit of a slow starter. The first few days are pretty ordinary, with small swell and funky wind. Sunday the 16th has a tiny 2ft southerly groundswell but it's cross-on, so it's not worth getting excited about.
We get a tease early Monday the 17th with glassy conditions on a 2ft southerly swell, but the waves are just too weak to call it a real session. Then things go flat and messy through Tuesday and into Wednesday the 19th, when a bigger 8ft NNE swell shows up but it's crossed up by a 12 mph wind. The combined energy is moderate at best (546), but the quality is poor. Not your day.
The first real standout comes on Thursday the 20th. Thursday morning sees a clean 6ft NNE swell with a light cross-off breeze. The afternoon takes it up a notch: 6ft from the north with a clean cross-off wind and a combined energy of 553. This is the pick of the first week – solid, clean, and surfable for anyone comfortable in the head-high range. Water temp is 57°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
After that, the swell drops away again through Friday and Saturday. Sunday the 23rd morning offers a nice, clean 3ft southerly groundswell with a very long 16-second period and a combined energy of 485. The water is glassy with light offshore winds. This is a sneaky good morning if you like a clean, lined-up point break wave with plenty of push for its size.
The following week shows more promise but is less certain. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th look excellent on paper: offshore winds, clean conditions, and solid 5 to 5ft southerly swells. Tuesday morning hits 5ft from the south with a moderate offshore and combined energy of 613 – very strong for the size. The wind is clean, and this could be the best session of the whole run if it holds.
Later in the week the wind picks up hard out of the south-west, and by Wednesday the 26th it's a write-off with rain and 19 mph winds. Good only for kites if anything.
The last few days of the month have a few clean windows. Friday the 28th afternoon is glassy on a 4ft NNE swell with a combined energy of 253, and Sunday the 30th morning sees a glassy 5ft SSE swell with 438 energy – both surfable but not standouts.
Bottom line: if you can get out Thursday the 20th afternoon or Tuesday the 25th morning, you'll be smiling. The rest is a mix of marginal and clean but small.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 15 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | N 7 | N 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 75 | 134 | 82 | 73 | 45 | 17 | 41 | 309 | 512 | 498 | 358 | 322 | 328 | 97 | 12 | 9 | 23 | 71 | 73 | 167 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:55PM1.03m | 11:41AM1.11m | 11:53PM0.92m | 12:20PM1.12m | 00:56AM0.84m | 1:01PM1.12m | 2:05AM0.79m | 1:43PM1.11m | 3:16AM0.76m | 2:29PM1.11m | 4:21AM0.76m | 3:18PM1.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:01PM0.43m | 5:11AM0.32m | 6:02PM0.41m | 5:46AM0.41m | 7:04PM0.40m | 6:23AM0.49m | 8:04PM0.38m | 7:02AM0.56m | 9:03PM0.36m | 7:47AM0.60m | 9:57PM0.33m | 8:39AM0.63m | 10:48PM0.31m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | S 15 | S 11 | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 6 | SSW 6 | S 17 | S 15 | S 8 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 53 | 134 | 82 | 73 | 45 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 218 | 97 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 71 | 48 | 43 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 8 | S 15 | S 16 | E 9 | SE 13 | S 16 | S 15 | NE 7 | NE 8 | S 6 | SSW 9 | N 6 | S 15 |
| kJ | 75 | 11 | 11 | 47 | 40 | 17 | 18 | 5 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 25 | 18 | 167 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | SE 14 | S 16 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | S 18 | S 10 | E 12 | SSW 6 | NNE 7 | E 12 | NE 8 | S 15 | SSW 9 |
| kJ | 10 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 73 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | N 7 | — | SW 5 | NNW 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | W 3 | N 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 41 | 309 | 512 | 498 | 358 | 322 | 328 | — | 8 | 5 | 66 | 36 | 2 | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 34 | 34 | 34 | 110 | 34 | 93 | 324 | 93 | 110 | 34 | 110 | 110 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 527 | 529 | 34 | 20 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Coast of Tasmania | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Friendly Beaches Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Friendly Beaches provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Friendly Beaches can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Friendly Beaches 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 (Friendly Beaches) 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 Friendly Beaches 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.
Friendly Beaches is 114 km (71 miles) from Launceston. If you plan a holiday in East Coast of Tasmania, look for hotels and other accommodation in Launceston. Launceston has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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