Surf Forecasts:
Lakes Beach surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, NE swell with 170 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period with NE 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 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s 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 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 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 1.2m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lakes Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down for Lakes Beach over the next 16 days. Gotta be honest, the start is a bit of a dud. Small swell, sloppy winds—nothing to get excited about. Water temp is around 63.3°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no shock there.
Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st? Forget it. Tiny waves, cross-onshore junk, just leave the board in the car. Saturday the 22nd morning goes glassy but the swell is only 1.3 ft, so it’s flat. The whole weekend and into Monday the 24th is weak, with combined energy barely cracking 100 (like 104 to 123 on Monday). Not worth wettin’ a wetsuit.
Tuesday the 25th morning shows a glimmer—clean conditions with a light offshore, and 2.6 ft of swell. Energy hits 174, but it’s still just surfable, not a standout. Wednesday the 26th gets breezy and a bit more size, but it’s messy.
Now, the real news starts Sunday the 30th of August. Sunday morning brings 6.2 ft of ENE swell, with energy jumpin’ to 362. Winds are cross-shore, so it’s a bit choppy. Monday the 31st morning serves up 7.2 ft from the ENE, energy at 639, and a cross-onshore—getting big for this spot. Tuesday the 1st of September morning is the big one for experts: 8.2 ft of E swell, clean offshore wind from the WNW, and energy at a massive 1382. That’s heavy, powerful stuff—only for the brave. The swell backs off through the week, with Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd still clean and solid, with waves from 4.3 ft to 6.6 ft.
Friday the 4th of September morning is another good session—4.9 ft of S swell, clean offshores, and energy at 430. That’s a solid, fun wave for experienced surfers.
So, the standouts? Tuesday the 1st of September morning for the biggest, cleanest waves, but that’s expert-only. For a more doable but still quality session, Thursday the 3rd of September morning or Friday the 4th of September morning are your picks—clean, good size, and not too extreme.
Remember, this is a long-range outlook, so keep checking in as we get closer. Stay salty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 10 | S 9 | S 11 | S 9 | S 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 65 | 82 | 93 | 34 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 47 | 78 | 59 | 61 | 64 | 90 | 92 | 86 | 100 | 67 | 98 | 90 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:49PM1.28m | 2:17AM0.88m | 2:54PM1.27m | 3:41AM0.86m | 4:01PM1.29m | 4:54AM0.89m | 4:58PM1.35m | 5:47AM0.94m | 5:46PM1.42m | 6:29AM1.01m | 6:27PM1.49m | 7:06AM1.09m | 7:05PM1.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:46PM0.53m | 7:49AM0.53m | 10:05PM0.51m | 8:59AM0.56m | 11:10PM0.46m | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.39m | 11:07AM0.50m | 00:37AM0.32m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:12AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:43AM0.18m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 7 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 10 | S 9 | S 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 65 | 22 | 93 | 34 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 47 | 78 | 26 | 33 | 41 | 90 | 92 | 86 | 100 | 67 | 44 | 90 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | E 10 | S 13 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 6 | SE 4 | S 16 | S 11 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | S 8 | S 11 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 28 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 42 | 59 | 61 | 64 | 65 | 61 | 41 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | — | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SE 8 | E 9 | E 10 | S 8 | NE 7 | — | NE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 10 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | — | 18 | 10 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 21 | — | 19 | 5 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | ENE 6 | ENE 3 | ESE 4 | E 4 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 | — |
| kJ | 60 | 82 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 14 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | 51 | 98 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 113 | 0 | 9 | 55 | 133 | 170 | 336 | 216 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 149 | 47 | 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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