
Surf Forecasts:
Long Reef surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, S swell with 4,297 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Long Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Long Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Long Reef in the next 16 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Long Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
What's happening, Rusty here. Looking at the 16-day window for Long Reef, it’s a bit of a slow burner, but there are a couple of mornings that are gonna be golden.
We have a few quiet days to start with, with wind ruining any small windows. Don't rush out.
The first real heavy-hitter lands on the morning of Wednesday, September 16th. We're looking at an expert-only playground with a beefy 12 ft south swell, period around 9 seconds. The energy meter is pegged at 1901, so there's serious power. With a clean cross-off wind from the SSW at 22 mph, the reef will be walled up and critical. Not for beginners. The afternoon jumps to a massive 15 ft, but the wind gets stronger. Water temp's around 64°, which is pretty standard for the season.
Thursday the 17th is still pumping at 12 ft in the morning, but the wind turns cross and gets lumpy. That setup looks more like a kiter's dream than a paddle surfer's.
Once that monster settles, we get two glorious mornings for the rest of us. Friday the 18th of September: the swell drops to a lovely 5 ft from the ESE, with a nice 11-second period (871 energy). The winner is the wind—absolutely glassy from the NW at only 3 mph. The waves will be clean, long lines. A total dream morning.
Then, Saturday the 19th of September is a carbon copy. A consistent 5 ft ESE swell with the same long 11-second period. The wind again goes glassy from the NW at 3 mph (573 energy). These two mornings are the clear-cut standouts. Clean, fun, and surfable for the competent surfer.
The rest of the forecast is a mix of smaller, blown-out conditions or dangerous, unorganized big surf. The huge pulse on the 22nd is 12 ft but with messy cross-onshore winds, so it's not a pick.
So, get the big boards out for the 16th if you're an expert, but for the purest, sweetest session, be on the reef for sunrise on the 18th and 19th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Wed morning, light winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 7 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
418 | 279 | 158 | 181 | 143 | 178 | 123 | 94 | 230 | 93 | 55 | 466 | 1879 | 4108 | 3678 | 2199 | 1382 | 516 | 540 | 608 | 642 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:56PM1.48m | 9:22AM1.46m | 9:36PM1.36m | 9:58AM1.46m | 10:16PM1.23m | 10:35AM1.43m | 10:58PM1.10m | 11:15AM1.38m | 11:44PM0.99m | 12:01PM1.32m | 00:40AM0.91m | 12:57PM1.26m | 1:54AM0.86m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:47PM0.17m | 3:09AM0.12m | 3:32PM0.19m | 3:41AM0.20m | 4:17PM0.24m | 4:12AM0.29m | 5:04PM0.30m | 4:45AM0.38m | 5:54PM0.38m | 5:21AM0.46m | 6:54PM0.44m | 6:05AM0.54m | 8:06PM0.49m | ||||||||
5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | — | ENE 13 | E 13 | E 13 | S 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
418 | 279 | 158 | 181 | 143 | 161 | 54 | 81 | 173 | 93 | 55 | 16 | 2 | — | 17 | 3 | 3 | 516 | 540 | 608 | 642 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 17 | S 20 | NE 5 | ENE 13 | S 12 | S 11 | ENE 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | ENE 13 | ENE 14 | — | — | NE 13 | NE 13 | ESE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
184 | 142 | 121 | 18 | 17 | 178 | 123 | 16 | 48 | 29 | 14 | 18 | 20 | — | — | 7 | 7 | 280 | 306 | 220 | 123 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 14 | ENE 14 | ENE 13 | S 17 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | — | ENE 12 | NE 13 | ENE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 |
19 | 19 | 16 | 49 | 17 | 17 | 17 | — | 15 | 6 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | 25 | 55 | 53 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 7 | SW 3 | S 5 | S 7 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | N 3 |
— | 3 | 29 | 26 | 56 | 229 | 82 | 94 | 230 | 2 | 18 | 466 | 1879 | 4108 | 3678 | 2199 | 1382 | — | — | — | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 509 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 0 | 1 | 84 | 158 | 837 | 731 | 191 | 58 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sydney North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Long Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Long Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Long Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Long Reef 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 (Long Reef) 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 Long Reef 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.
Long Reef is 2 km (1 miles) from Dee Why. If you plan a holiday in Sydney North Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dee Why. Dee Why has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










