Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, ESE swell with 226 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with ESE 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nobbys Reef in the next 16 days are 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Nobbys Reef. This is a reef break for advanced crew only, and it’s inconsistent even when there’s swell. Needs a southeast swell to really get going, and we just aren’t seeing that.
Water temp is about 63°, a little cooler than average for this time of year – so grab a 3/2.
This Sunday the 16th, we’ve got a weak, short-period 5ft swell from the SE, but onshore wind kills it. Combined wave energy is moderate at 318. Total write-off. Monday the 17th drops to 4ft from the ESE, still onshore, energy moderate around 219-227. Poor.
Tuesday the 18th stays similar: 4ft and 4ft ESE, cross-onshore, chop. Wednesday the 19th – Wednesday morning goes glassy calm with 2ft from the ESE, period lifts to 10 seconds, so a bit more shape. Energy moderate at 198. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. That’s the best of the first week.
From Thursday the 20th through Saturday the 22nd, it’s flat. Waves drop from 3ft down to 1ft. Energy collapses from 82 down to 16. There’s a gap of several days with nothing to ride. Sunday the 23rd stays tiny at 1ft.
On Monday the 24th, a very long-period groundswell appears – 1ft from the SSE with a period of 19 seconds. Long lines for a reef, but barely any size. Energy is moderate (160), wind offshore, clean but only surfable in the most ordinary way.
Tuesday the 25th brings a spike – 5ft from the S at 12 seconds, energy hits 880 (strong), but wind is a fresh cross-shore at 30 mph, lumpy and messy. Too big for beginners and not clean. Wednesday the 26th is 4ft from the S, period 12 seconds, strong cross-offshore wind at 30 mph – clean faces but gusty. Energy is strong (456). The rest of that week is small and choppy.
The one real standout is way out on Monday the 31st of August. In the afternoon, we see 8ft from the S at 9 seconds, with light cross-on wind. Combined energy is 1135 – very strong. That’s expert-only size, but with light wind, it could be a proper session. Just a long way out, so promising but not locked in.
Overall, it’s a lean 16 days. Nobbys Reef is inconsistent anyway, and without a proper SE swell, most of this is just waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 7 | S 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 183 | 75 | 117 | 96 | 136 | 136 | 127 | 103 | 92 | 226 | 147 | 73 | 107 | 51 | 30 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 10:54PM1.46m | 11:30AM1.42m | 11:35PM1.30m | 12:12PM1.39m | 00:16AM1.16m | 12:59PM1.36m | 1:04AM1.03m | 1:52PM1.34m | 2:06AM0.94m | 2:52PM1.35m | 3:30AM0.91m | 3:55PM1.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:49PM0.36m | 5:12AM0.28m | 5:38PM0.44m | 5:46AM0.37m | 6:30PM0.53m | 6:20AM0.46m | 7:31PM0.60m | 6:59AM0.54m | 8:45PM0.63m | 7:47AM0.60m | 10:07PM0.62m | 8:49AM0.64m | 11:13PM0.55m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 18 | ESE 6 | S 9 | ESE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 102 | 75 | 81 | 96 | 35 | 34 | 127 | 103 | 81 | 226 | 147 | 73 | 60 | 51 | 30 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 7 | S 16 | S 9 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | S 12 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 6 |
| kJ | 25 | 70 | 21 | 78 | 25 | 10 | 55 | 85 | 92 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 11 | — | SSW 13 | ESE 11 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 10 | S 9 | — | E 11 | — | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 7 | E 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 40 | — | 53 | 12 | 9 | 46 | 30 | 25 | — | 9 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | — | ESE 7 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | 183 | — | 117 | — | 136 | 136 | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 96 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 136 | 137 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 226 | 0 | 23 | 96 | 164 | 164 | 174 | 164 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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