Surf Forecasts:
Lakes Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, ESE swell with 216 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period with ESE 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 (Aug 19) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lakes Beach in the next 16 days are 1.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7PM. 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lakes Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on offer at Lakes Beach.
Honestly, for the next week and a half, it’s a pretty grim stretch. We’re looking at a long, frustrating gap where the conditions are just not playing ball. The swell’s weak, the wind’s messy, and the wave comment keeps telling us the same story: poor surf. From Monday the 17th right through to the evening of Sunday the 23rd, it's a write-off. A few mornings look clean or glassy, but with tiny lumps that barely register. The wait is real.
Then things finally start to shift. Monday the 24th of August sees a pulse of very long period groundswell arrive from the south, with a period of 19 seconds. The energy is moderate (202), but the size is tiny at 1ft. The wind is light and cross-off, so the water will be clean, and with a wave comment of "expect good surf conditions," this is the first true highlight. It won't be big, but the quality of the swell will make it fun for a longboard or a fish.
The big standout, the one I'd circle on the calendar, is Saturday the 29th of August. We get a jump in energy (336) with a clean 5ft swell from the ENE, period of 9 seconds. The wind is glassy in the morning, and the forecast says "expect good surf conditions." That's the best on offer for the entire outlook. For a more advanced option, Friday the 28th of August morning sees the swell jump to 6ft from the NE, with massive energy (655). The wind is onshore, making it a bit of a gamble, but if the wind plays nice, that's the biggest, most powerful wave of the 16 days.
Water temperature is 63°F, pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, so no surprises there.
In short: Suffer the dry spell for a week, get a taste of that long-period groundswell on the 24th, but hold out for Saturday the 29th for the best clean, surfable waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 10 | S 5 | S 8 | NE 6 | S 17 | SSW 9 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 116 | 113 | 135 | 128 | 118 | 116 | 90 | 210 | 101 | 70 | 37 | 66 | 30 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 33 | 12 | 28 | 30 | 44 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross |
High Tide | 11:21AM1.37m | 11:25PM1.23m | 12:04PM1.35m | 00:11AM1.08m | 12:52PM1.32m | 1:05AM0.96m | 1:49PM1.28m | 2:17AM0.88m | 2:54PM1.27m | 3:41AM0.86m | 4:01PM1.29m | 4:54AM0.89m | 4:58PM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:30PM0.36m | 5:34AM0.29m | 6:25PM0.44m | 6:11AM0.39m | 7:30PM0.50m | 6:53AM0.47m | 8:46PM0.53m | 7:49AM0.53m | 10:05PM0.51m | 8:59AM0.56m | 11:10PM0.46m | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.39m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | S 8 | S 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 5 | S 8 | NE 4 | ENE 8 | SSW 9 | S 10 |
| kJ | 113 | 113 | 35 | 85 | 118 | 116 | 84 | 210 | 101 | 70 | 30 | 66 | 30 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 33 | 4 | 28 | 25 | 44 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 12 | E 9 | S 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | E 11 | E 10 | S 13 | SE 7 | S 6 | S 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 116 | 80 | 25 | 6 | 56 | 113 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 30 | 27 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ESE 11 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | S 10 | S 9 | S 15 | E 12 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | ESE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | SE 7 | S 8 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 |
| kJ | 63 | 53 | 12 | 9 | 71 | 48 | 25 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 22 | 19 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | NNW 2 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | NNE 4 | SW 3 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 135 | 128 | — | — | — | — | 42 | 1 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 38 | 95 | 94 | 13 | 0 | 236 | 4 | 4 | 51 | 4 | 47 | 104 | 65 | 133 | 138 | 206 | 0 | 336 | 4 |
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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