Surf Forecasts:
Redhead surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with 270 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with SE 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Redhead in the next 16 days are 1.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Redhead over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s doing at Redhead. It’s a reef set-up, fairly exposed to the swell, and it’s a bit of a beginner-friendly spot.
Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and ordinary. There’s a big gap of nothing much happening. The first real sniff of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Thursday the 3rd of September, almost two weeks away. Before that, it’s a whole lot of tiny, weak waves and poor conditions.
We’ve got a bit of a pulse on Wednesday the 19th of August, with a 4 ft swell from the east, but a nasty 30 km/h cross-offshore wind from the ENE is tearing it up. The combined energy is only moderate at 319, and the water is sitting at 63°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. Honestly, it’s a write-off.
Then we hit a long, dry spell. From Thursday the 20th through to Wednesday the 2nd of September, the swell drops right off. We’re talking ankle to knee-high slop, mostly under 2 ft. The odd morning might have a light offshore breeze, like Thursday the 20th morning with a 3 ft swell from the ESE and a 9 mph offshore wind, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s just not got any oomph. The energy reading is a weak 66. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. You’ll be fighting for scraps.
The real standout, and the only one worth marking on the calendar, is Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning shows a 7 ft swell from the SE with a period of 11 seconds, giving a very strong combined energy of 1165. That’s proper groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the NE, so there’s a slight chop but it’s manageable. This is a big jump in size – that’s expert territory, or at least for solid intermediate surfers. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a 7 ft swell from the SE, still with a period of 10 seconds and energy at 852, and a moderate cross-off breeze from the ENE. This is the pick of the entire forecast. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but it’s got promise.
So, to wrap it up: a two-week flat spell with a few small, clean mornings, then a solid, punchy SE swell on the 3rd of September. That’s your window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | ESE 7 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 4 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | SSE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 162 | 62 | 39 | 70 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 34 | 33 | 11 | 45 | 28 | 93 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:36AM0.87m | 6:25PM1.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:49AM0.39m | 1:08AM0.18m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | | |  | |  |  | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 9 |
Temp °C | 16 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 5 | S 10 | S 9 | S 7 | E 6 | E 7 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 162 | 62 | 24 | 70 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 58 | 26 | 34 | 33 | 72 | 43 | 40 | 28 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | SSE 16 | S 12 | S 9 | S 11 | E 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 16 |
| kJ | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 53 | 42 | 43 | 79 | 11 | 45 | 28 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 11 | — | S 13 | E 7 | E 9 | S 10 | SE 7 | E 10 | S 8 | S 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 7 | SSE 16 | ENE 7 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
| kJ | — | 9 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 5 | 22 | 20 | 45 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | — | ENE 6 | — | — | — | WNW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | NW 2 | — | — | S 4 | SSE 5 |
| kJ | 45 | — | 39 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 1 | — | — | 9 | 93 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 0 | 150 | 0 | 10 | 134 | 103 | 176 | 347 | 186 | 10 | 124 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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