Lakes Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.25° S 151.56° E

Lakes Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 14 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lakes Beach sea temperature is
18.0°C
0.5° 

Lakes Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Lakes Beach surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,684 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period with S swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lakes Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Lakes Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Lakes Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Wed 16th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Best Surf 1AM (Wed 16th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 4PM (Wed 16th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lakes Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right off the bat, things are looking pretty bleak around here. We’ve got a stretch of nothing but mush and onshore slop to kick things off. Tuesday the 15th is a write-off, with tiny 0.7m NE windswell and a cross-shore breeze messing up the surface. Combined energy is a weak 70, and it’s just not doing anything for us. The next couple of days, the 16th and 17th, see a big pulse of south swell roll in, with size pushing 3.5m and the period stretching out to 10 seconds. That’s serious power, with combined energy jumping to 2045 and then 3193, but here’s the catch – it’s way too big for this spot and the wind, while offshore, is blowing a solid 35 km/h. It’s all power and no finesse, so for anyone but the most experienced chargers, it’s a pass. The break is just too exposed to handle that kind of size.

Thursday afternoon sees it back off a touch to 2.2m, but it’s still too much and the wind goes cross. Friday the 18th drops right back down to 1.5m, but the onshore wind kills it.

Now, Saturday the 19th is where things get interesting. We’ve got a clean 0.9m of south swell, with a 10-second period, and the morning is absolutely glassy with a light west wind. The combined energy is a modest 262, but when it’s that clean, you don’t need much. It’s not big, but it will be fun and workable. That’s a nice little window. Sunday the 20th flattens out again, back to 0.6m, and the onshore wind is back.

We go through a bit of a lull until Monday the 21st, where there’s a blip of cross-off wind but the swell is only 1.0m with a short 5-second period, so it’s not doing much. Monday afternoon, a new S swell fills in fast, jumping to 2.2m with a 10-second period and energy of 1070. It’s bigger, but the wind goes fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy. Not ideal. Tuesday the 22nd has some 2.0m SSE swell with an 11-second period, but the NE wind is on it, so the surface is poor.

From the 23rd through the 26th, it’s a mess. We’ve got onshore winds, mostly from the NE and ENE, blowing anywhere from 15 to 40 km/h, and the swell is either short-period, weak, or just messy. The 24th has some size at 1.7m but it’s a short 6-second ENE windswell and totally junk. The 27th sees a bit more size, 2.1m from the SE, but the wind is onshore and strong, and the wave comment says it all – poor surf conditions. The combined energy is 510, but it’s all blown out.

Finally, Tuesday the 29th brings a glimmer of hope. The morning has a clean 0.9m from the ENE with a true offshore wind, SW at 15 km/h. It’s not big, but it’s clean. The afternoon is a bit more size at 1.2m but the wind goes cross-off, and it’s a bit rain-soaked. Wednesday the 30th is a step back, with a cross-off but only 1.0m and a short 8-second period.

So, looking at the whole picture, we’ve got a long, flat, and messy stretch ahead. The only real standout is Saturday morning the 19th, where the glassy conditions will make that small 0.9m south swell feel way better than it looks. And maybe Tuesday the 29th morning for a clean but tiny wave. Everything else is either too big, too small, or just plain blown out. If you’re a kite surfer, there’s plenty of wind and chop to play with, but for paddling, you’re going to have to be picky and patient.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon night, min 9°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
!
!
!
!
!
!
2
1
0
2
2
1
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.5
NE
6
2.5
S
8
3.5
S
9
3.5
S
10
3.5
S
10
3
S
10
2.2
S
9
1.7
S
9
1.5
S
9
1.4
S
9
1.1
S
9
0.9
S
10
0.9
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.4
S
8
0.2
S
19
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
126
40
18
949
2005
2684
2471
1765
854
463
364
334
210
149
146
80
52
22
29
Wind (km/h)
15
N
5
SSE
20
SSE
30
S
35
SSW
35
SSW
30
S
20
SSW
15
SE
10
WNW
5
NE
20
ENE
15
W
5
W
10
ESE
5
NW
10
NNE
15
NE
15
NW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
10:13PM1.25m
10:34AM1.46m
10:54PM1.12m
11:13AM1.40m
11:39PM1.01m
11:59AM1.34m
00:34AM0.92m
12:54PM1.27m
1:48AM0.86m
2:04PM1.24m
3:16AM0.87m
3:16PM1.25m
Low Tide
4:10AM0.28m
5:01PM0.31m
4:42AM0.37m
5:51PM0.39m
5:18AM0.46m
6:50PM0.46m
6:02AM0.53m
8:02PM0.50m
7:03AM0.59m
9:21PM0.50m
8:23AM0.62m
10:27PM0.45m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:52
5:50
5:50
5:48
5:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
 mm
Temp °C
22
22
17
14
13
14
14
14
14
13
19
17
17
23
21
20
28
28
26
Feels °C
18
20
14
6
4
5
5
9
10
12
14
13
16
18
17
17
22
23
22
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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 Lakes Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Lakes Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lakes Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lakes Beach 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 (Lakes Beach) 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 Lakes Beach 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.

Lakes Beach is 11 km (7 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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