
Surf Forecasts:
Seaford Reef surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period, SW swell with 22 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Seaford Reef this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Seaford Reef in the next 16 days are 0.7m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (ACST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Seaford Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but the surf is pretty much a no-show for almost the entire run. We’ve got a long gap of days with nothing worth paddling out for, so don't get your hopes up too early.
The only spot in the game is Seaford Reef. It’s a sheltered reef break, best for beginners, but it’s also inconsistent, so it doesn’t fire often. The water is sitting at 58° – pretty much normal for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
For the first week, from Monday, 20 July right through to the end of the month, the conditions are just poor. We’re talking tiny swell, mostly 0.3ft to 3ft, with a lot of onshore and cross-onshore wind. The wind is often moderate to fresh, making things choppy and messy. The combined swell energy is weak, mostly in the single or low double digits (e.g. 13, 15, 11, 22) – just not enough push to get a decent ride. The wave period is short, often around 4 seconds, so even if there was a little bump, it’d be weak and crumbly. There’s nothing here for a surfer.
We finally see a tiny glimmer on Wednesday, 29 July. The morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNE, and a 0.7ft swell from the WSW. By the afternoon, it goes glassy with a 3ft NNW swell – the combined energy jumps to 36, which is still weak but it’s the best we’ve seen. Still, the period is just 4 seconds, so it’s a short, weak windswell. It’s not really surfable, but it’s the closest to a flat spell we get.
Thursday, 30 July, the morning looks clean again with a cross-offshore breeze and a 3ft NW swell – the combined energy hits 45. Again, the period is only 4 seconds. It’s a clean, small wave, but it’s not going to give you much of a ride.
The only real standout – and I use that term loosely – comes on Saturday, 1 August. The morning has a fresh cross-offshore breeze from the north, and the swell bumps up to 5ft from the west, with a period of 5 seconds. The combined energy finally cracks three digits at 109, which is moderate energy. The wind is offshore, so it’ll be clean, but the swell is still a short-period windswell. For a sheltered reef, this might actually offer a few fun, if weak, waves. It’s the best on offer, but it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on the charts. The afternoon sees the swell drop to 4ft with a cross-shore wind, so the morning is the pick.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums with strong onshore winds and tiny, weak swell through the first week of August. The combined energy drops to 25 or less, and it’s all messy and lumpy. Not worth the drive.
So, to sum it up: the entire 16-day window is poor. There’s a huge gap of days with no real surf. The only window that might offer a wave is the morning of Saturday, 1 August, with a 5ft clean swell from the west at Seaford Reef. It’s promising but uncertain this far out. For now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SW 12 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | W 4 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 8 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | WSW 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 7:04PM1.83m | 7:42AM1.87m | 7:27PM1.69m | 8:20AM1.88m | 7:51PM1.50m | 9:07AM1.82m | 8:05PM1.29m | 10:16AM1.72m | 12:44PM1.66m | 2:41PM1.78m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 1:03PM0.67m | 1:18AM0.48m | 1:42PM0.76m | 1:40AM0.51m | 2:27PM0.90m | 2:03AM0.57m | 3:31PM1.06m | 2:24AM0.68m | 2:16AM0.82m | 10:44PM0.78m | 10:37PM0.58m | ||||||||||
7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | WSW 8 | S 16 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | S 15 | — | — | W 4 | S 12 | WSW 5 | WSW 5 | SW 6 |
1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | — | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — | 10 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 5 | W 5 | — | SW 12 | SW 11 | W 11 | — | S 14 | — | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | 1 | 2 | — | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | 4 | — | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | NNW 3 | — | N 2 | NNW 3 | WNW 3 | W 4 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | — | WSW 5 | — | — | WSW 4 |
3 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 22 | — | 7 | — | — | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 617 | 624 | 447 | 128 | 128 | 128 | 481 | 613 | 43 | 617 | 624 | 43 | 489 | 610 | 43 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Adelaide | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Seaford Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Seaford Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Seaford Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Seaford 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 (Seaford 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 Seaford 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.
Seaford Reef is 7 km (4 miles) from the very large city of Morphett Vale. If you plan a holiday in Adelaide, look for hotels and other accommodation in Morphett Vale. Morphett Vale has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.










