Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. 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 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| 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 folks, let’s talk about Nobbys Reef. This is an advanced reef break, and over the next 16 days it’s mostly a waiting game. Water temp is about normal for the time of year, nothing unusual.
Monday the 17th kicks off with a 4ft ESE swell, short 7-second period, and cross-on wind. Weak energy (223) and poor surf. Tuesday the 18th is a carbon copy – same size, same sucky quality.
Wednesday the 19th morning is the first bright spot. Swell drops to 2ft from the ESE, but the period stretches to 10 seconds, and it’s glassy. Combined energy is moderate (202). That’s a clean, small groundswell – you’ll need patience, but it’s the best of the first week.
Thursday the 20th morning: 3ft ESE swell, short period, clean but weak (82). Just ordinary. Friday the 21st through Sunday the 23rd are flat as a pancake – swell under 2ft, energy in the teens and thirties. Don’t bother.
Monday the 24th morning: 1ft south swell, 10-second period, offshore. Clean but tiny.
Now Tuesday the 25th – this is the one. Swell jumps to 6ft from the SSE, 9-second period, combined energy roaring to 487 – that’s strong. Both morning and afternoon are clean with light offshore winds. At 6ft, it’s too big for beginners, but for the advanced crowd, Nobbys will have some proper waves. Crowds can show up, so get there early.
Wednesday the 26th morning: 3ft south swell at 11 seconds, energy still strong at 479, but the offshore wind is cranking at 30 km/h. Clean but blown out – more for kite surfing than paddling.
Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th: swell drops to 3–3ft, periods around 10–11 seconds, but cross or cross-on winds keep it chopped up. Energy in the 200s.
Saturday the 29th morning: 2ft south swell, offshore wind, clean but barely a wave (89 energy). Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st: small east swells, 2–2ft, periods 10–13 seconds, offshore winds, energy in the low 100s. Surfable but nothing special.
Tuesday the 1st of September: 1ft east swell, 12-second period, glassy morning – energy only 57. Flat finish.
Best bets: Wednesday the 19th morning for a glassy, small groundswell session, and Tuesday the 25th for the biggest, most powerful surf of the whole run. That Tuesday is the standout – big energy, clean wind, solid size.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun night, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 78 | 117 | 106 | 153 | 120 | 127 | 103 | 92 | 226 | 151 | 73 | 77 | 56 | 29 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
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 | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy |
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 | 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 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 78 | 117 | 106 | 35 | 34 | 127 | 103 | 84 | 226 | 151 | 73 | 77 | 56 | 29 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 | ESE 11 | S 12 | S 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | E 11 | E 10 | S 13 | S 12 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 |
| kJ | 70 | 85 | 78 | 12 | 10 | 55 | 85 | 92 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 16 | SSW 13 | S 12 | E 9 | SE 14 | S 10 | S 9 | — | E 12 | — | S 14 | — | — | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 40 | 21 | 53 | 12 | 2 | 47 | 30 | 26 | — | 3 | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 153 | 120 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 81 | 1 | 81 | 117 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 0 | 23 | 23 | 174 | 92 | 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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