Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, SSE swell with 826 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Nobbys Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nobbys Reef in the next 16 days are 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the menu for Nobbys Reef over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th are flat and forgettable. We've got tiny 2ft to 3ft swell with a short period, and while the wind is light and offshore or cross-offshore, the energy is just pathetic (97). The water is sitting at 64°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. Honestly, it's a skunk session.
Thursday the 27th brings a jump in size, but it's a terrible trade-off. A sudden southerly groundswell pushes up to 5ft, but with a fresh onshore breeze and a period of only 5 seconds? That's lumpy, chunky, and messy. The energy is moderate at 425, but don't be fooled – it's proper slop.
Friday the 28th morning is our first real standout. We've got a clean 4ft SSE groundswell, period up to 12 seconds, and a light cross-offshore WNW breeze. The combined energy is solid (556) and it's going to be glassy. That's your window if you want a clean, fun wave on the reef. The afternoon gets ruined by a strong SSE cross-onshore.
Saturday the 29th is a write-off. The swell is too big (over 7ft) for most, and the wind is howling onshore. That's not a surf day, that's a kite day if you're into that.
Sunday the 30th through Monday the 31st morning is a weird mix. Sunday drops down to a weak 3ft with poor wind, but Monday the 31st morning brings a fascinating long-period groundswell – 3ft at 18 seconds from the SSE, with a glassy NNE breeze (3 mph). That's a proper clean, lined-up wave, but the period is *very* long (18 seconds). At a reef like Nobbys, that can mean the sets are fat and walled up, with long lulls between bombs. Still, it's the best call for clean conditions that week.
The first week of September kicks off with some decent moderate offshore winds on Tuesday the 1st, but the swell is small (3ft-3ft) with good period. It's surfable, but nothing to call home about. Wednesday the 2nd is back to onshore junk.
Now, here's the big one. If you can wait, Thursday the 3rd of September and Saturday the 5th of September are the true standouts. On Thursday the 3rd, we've got an absolute bomb: 5ft from the SSE, with a period of 20 to 21 seconds, combined energy over 2000 (very strong), and a gentle offshore wind. This is *excellent* conditions for experienced surfers. That swell is powerful, straight, and long – perfect for a reef, but it will be heavy. It's for the crew who knows what they're doing.
Saturday the 5th morning keeps the energy alive: 7ft at 12 seconds from the south, with a light offshore NW breeze. That's a lot of water moving, still for experts only, but the wind is clean.
The rest of the second week fades out. Sunday the 6th has a fresh offshore wind but smaller swell, and then we're back to small, weak, or onshore conditions through to the 9th. The last real chance is gone by then.
Overall, the pattern is a slow, poor start, a brief clean-up on the 28th morning and 31st morning, then a powerful, expert-only window on the 3rd and 5th of September. The crowds at Nobbys are *sometimes* an issue, so for those clean morning windows, expect company, especially if the conditions are as good as they look on paper.
Stay stoked, wait for that early September pulse if you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 5 | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | S 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
49 | 66 | 67 | 49 | 57 | 231 | 384 | 356 | 220 | 470 | 467 | 462 | 826 | 592 | 512 | 151 | 162 | 193 | 464 | 293 | 279 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 6:23PM1.57m | 7:12AM1.20m | 7:02PM1.62m | 7:46AM1.28m | 7:40PM1.65m | 8:19AM1.35m | 8:17PM1.66m | 8:52AM1.41m | 8:54PM1.63m | 9:27AM1.45m | 9:33PM1.57m | 10:03AM1.49m | 10:13PM1.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:53AM0.55m | 1:10AM0.29m | 12:39PM0.48m | 1:42AM0.22m | 1:22PM0.41m | 2:14AM0.17m | 2:02PM0.35m | 2:46AM0.15m | 2:42PM0.30m | 3:18AM0.15m | 3:23PM0.28m | 3:50AM0.18m | 4:07PM0.29m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | — | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 9 | SE 8 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | S 15 |
49 | 66 | 67 | 49 | 35 | 231 | 384 | 356 | 220 | 470 | 12 | 13 | 826 | 592 | 512 | 142 | 145 | 135 | 464 | 293 | 279 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | S 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 14 | S 11 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 6 |
28 | 27 | 15 | 19 | 5 | 35 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 22 | 34 | 39 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 151 | 162 | 84 | 57 | 42 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 9 | — | S 16 | S 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 14 | — | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSE 18 | SE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 |
20 | 20 | 21 | 6 | — | 5 | 17 | 42 | 37 | 64 | 33 | — | — | 30 | 26 | 16 | 18 | 193 | 55 | 8 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | ENE 4 |
— | — | — | — | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | 467 | 462 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 221 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 259 | 44 | 9 | 44 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Nobbys Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Nobbys Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Nobbys Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Nobbys 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 (Nobbys 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 Nobbys 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Newcastle? If you are looking for accommodation near Nobbys Reef, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Newcastle, consider staying in Newcastle which is 3 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Newcastle where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Catherine Hill Bay which is 31 km (19 miles) away, Port Stephens, Cessnock and Central Coast.











