Surf Forecasts:
Lakes Beach surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, SSE swell with 724 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lakes Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Lakes Beach.
The next couple weeks are a slow burn. You’ve got a little window of fun surf rolling through from late this week into the weekend, but after Sunday 30 August things drop right off and we’re looking at a long, flat spell. There’s a solid gap from Monday 31 August right through to Tuesday 8 September with only tiny, ordinary waves, so don’t go getting your hopes up for anything worthwhile in between.
Wednesday 26 August is a write-off – risk of thunderstorms, lumpy cross-off wind at 15 mph and weak 3ft ENE swell at 8 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 149. Not worth wetting a suit.
Thursday 27 August is still pretty average. Southerly swell bumps up to 6ft but period is only 9 seconds, and a cross-off wind of 12 mph keeps things messy. Combined energy hits 588 (moderate), but the quality just isn’t there.
Here’s your standout: Friday 28 August morning. Glassy conditions – a dead calm, wind swinging to SW at 0 mph. You’ll find clean 6ft swell from SSE with a decent 11-second period, giving you well-shaped, punchy waves. Combined energy is 823 (moderate to strong). This is the best on offer. Crowds are possible here, but with conditions this clean and swell size manageable for experienced surfers, it’ll be worth the paddle. The water sits at 64°, which is about normal for this time of year.
Saturday 29 August is still okay but falling off – 4ft SSE swell at 10 seconds, with a cross breeze and gentle cross-chop. Sunday 30 August morning cleans up again with a light WNW cross-off at 3 mph and 3ft S swell, but the energy is fading (275). By Sunday afternoon it’s onshore and poor.
From Monday 31 August onward, it’s small. Monday morning has glassy 2ft S swell with a very long 16-second period, which sounds tempting but that long period will make it break straight and wobbly on the beach – better suited to a point or reef. Combined energy is 386 (weak-moderate). After that, through Tuesday 8 September, we’re mostly looking at sub-3ft junk with short periods and often onshore or cross-off wind. A few clean moments on Tuesday 1 September afternoon and Wednesday 9 September morning, but with only 2–3ft on offer, it’s barely surfable.
If you’ve got a kite, the weekend of 28–29 August with moderate SSE winds and chest-high swell might be more interesting for you than paddle surfing.
Keep an eye on forecasts, but for now, Friday 28 August morning is your session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ENE 8 | S 6 | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 130 | 165 | 264 | 516 | 430 | 306 | 724 | 531 | 289 | 327 | 267 | 204 | 153 | 150 | 264 | 234 | 287 | 175 | 214 | 152 | 108 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:05PM1.54m | 7:41AM1.17m | 7:40PM1.57m | 8:15AM1.25m | 8:15PM1.57m | 8:49AM1.32m | 8:50PM1.54m | 9:24AM1.38m | 9:27PM1.47m | 10:01AM1.42m | 10:07PM1.38m | 10:41AM1.45m | 10:52PM1.27m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:43AM0.18m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:14AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.28m | 2:44AM0.10m | 2:39PM0.26m | 3:14AM0.10m | 3:21PM0.25m | 3:46AM0.12m | 4:05PM0.26m | 4:20AM0.17m | 4:55PM0.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 24 | 26 | 20 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 20 | 22 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 130 | 103 | 84 | 516 | 430 | 306 | 724 | 531 | 289 | 220 | 267 | 204 | 153 | 150 | 264 | 124 | 287 | 175 | 214 | 152 | 108 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 11 | S 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 17 | S 15 | ENE 11 | E 11 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 19 | 9 | 5 | 54 | 34 | 55 | 37 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 189 | 157 | 92 | 81 | 130 | 234 | 207 | 106 | 23 | 57 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 15 | S 11 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 12 | E 10 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 2 | 18 | 37 | 56 | 62 | 52 | 38 | 41 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 52 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | S 6 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | WNW 2 |
| kJ | 10 | 165 | 264 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 327 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 33 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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