Surf Forecasts:
Redhead surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, ESE swell with 282 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Redhead this week:
The surf forecast for Redhead 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 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Redhead in the next 16 days are 1.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Redhead over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak 16-day stretch for Redhead. We’ve got a run of tiny, weak swell and iffy wind that just won’t let up. The first half of the outlook is basically a write-off, and even the back half only offers a couple of slim windows of *maybe* surfable, but not good, conditions. You’re looking at nearly a week of nothing worth paddling out for, from Wednesday the 19th right through to the start of the following week.
Things do finally kick up a little on Thursday the 27th. That morning we’re looking at a 3ft swell out of the SE, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined swell energy is moderate at 115, so you’ll feel a bit of push. The winner here is a clean, gentle offshore from the NW – that’ll keep the surface nice. By the afternoon the swell bumps to 4ft from the SE, period up to 9 seconds, and the energy jumps to 249. The wind stays offshore from the NNW, moderate but still clean, so it's the best we're gonna see all period. It's a reef break, and it’s fairly consistent, but keep in mind it’s a beginner-friendly wave. Over 8ft it’s for experts, but we don't get close to that.
Friday the 28th morning holds a bit of that SE swell at 3ft, period 9 seconds, energy at 145, with a cross-offshore breeze from the WNW. It's clean and surfable, but ordinary. That afternoon, the wind swings cross-onshore and it gets choppy, so don't bother. Then from Saturday the 29th, it's all onshore, lumpy and rain-lashed – a total mess. And that Sunday the 30th afternoon actually sneaks in a 6ft SE swell with a chunky 462 energy, but it's cross-onshore and the wind is a moderate breeze from the ESE. That kind of size and energy in crap wind just makes it a blown-out, choppy nightmare – honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
So, bottom line: Thursday the 27th is your only real shot at something half-decent. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but it’s the only time the stars get close to aligning. The rest is a long, dusty wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 157 | 92 | 282 | 162 | 64 | 58 | 70 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 25 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | off | off | off | glassy | glassy | cross | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:18AM0.98m | 12:58PM1.15m | 1:07AM0.85m | 1:53PM1.11m | 2:10AM0.75m | 2:56PM1.09m | 3:39AM0.70m | 4:02PM1.11m | 5:05AM0.73m | 4:58PM1.15m | 5:58AM0.79m | 5:45PM1.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:28AM0.31m | 7:34PM0.41m | 7:08AM0.37m | 8:46PM0.45m | 7:56AM0.43m | 10:07PM0.44m | 8:53AM0.46m | 11:14PM0.39m | 9:56AM0.46m | 00:00AM0.32m | 10:56AM0.44m | 00:36AM0.25m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | S 9 | E 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 5 | S 8 | S 5 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 |
| kJ | 125 | 86 | 14 | 162 | 64 | 58 | 70 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 34 | 43 | 41 | 28 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | — | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | S 13 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | S 6 | ENE 6 | S 5 | S 9 | SSE 16 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 85 | 92 | — | 10 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 51 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 25 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 15 | — | — | — | — | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 3 | E 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 30 | 26 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | — | ESE 10 | NE 4 | — | ENE 6 | — | — | NNW 2 | NW 2 | NW 2 | NW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | 157 | — | 282 | 29 | — | 47 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 306 | 42 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 10 | 85 | 176 | 292 | 253 | 87 | 54 | 345 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Redhead Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Redhead provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Redhead can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Redhead 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 (Redhead) 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 Redhead 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 Redhead, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Newcastle, consider staying in Newcastle which is 12 km (7 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 19 km (12 miles) away, Cessnock, Port Stephens and Central Coast.
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