Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, SSE swell with 506 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Shelley Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down what’s coming for Shelley Beach over the next couple weeks.
The opening stretch is pretty flat and messy. Sunday the 23rd has some weak, short-period S swell around 4ft, but a gentle cross-onshore is puffing through, and the water’s about 64°F – nothing special. Not worth rushing out.
Monday the 24th morning offers a cleaner look: a light cross-offshore breeze with a knee-high 3ft S swell. The combined energy is moderate (208). That afternoon the wind jumps to 19 mph from the NE, turning it lumpy and poor. Tuesday and Wednesday look ordinary with onshore or cross-shore winds messing up tiny waves. There’s a gap of several quiet days.
The first real highlight hits Thursday the 27th morning. A clean 5ft S swell with glassy conditions – that’s the ticket. The wind is almost nothing from the SE, and the combined swell energy is a solid moderate 486. Shelley Beach is open to the S, and with a 9-second period, those waves will have some push. This is your best session of the first week.
Friday the 28th morning is another clean window with a light offshore from the WSW, but the swell drops to 3ft with moderate energy (275). It’s ridable but not a standout.
Now for the true standout: Saturday the 29th morning. This is the one to circle. A clean 6ft S swell with a light offshore breeze from the NW. The combined energy leaps to 532 (strong). For an intermediate break, 6ft is a fun size – not too big, not too small. The offshore wind will keep the face clean, and the S angle fits the break perfectly. If you surf only one session, make it this one.
Sunday the 30th gets messy again with onshore winds and bigger but lumpy swell (7ft S on the afternoon). That’s more of a kite day unless you’re keen on choppy drops.
Into the second week, Monday the 31st morning offers another clean shot with a 4ft S swell, a cross-offshore from the NNE, and strong energy (767). That’s a solid session. Tuesday the 1st of September keeps the offshore wind going (WNW) with 4ft S swell and clean conditions, but it’s easing.
From Wednesday the 2nd onward, the swell drops below 3ft and the energy fades to weak or moderate. A couple mornings are glassy (like Friday the 4th morning with 3ft of 5-second swell – that’s short and weak), but nothing to get excited about. The last slightly interesting day is Saturday the 5th, with a clean 3ft SSE swell – more of a longboard cruiser session.
In a nutshell: Thursday the 27th morning and Saturday the 29th morning are your windows. Saturday the 29th is the clear winner. Go get it while it’s clean.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the W by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | SSE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
306 | 149 | 210 | 121 | 89 | 101 | 88 | 86 | 96 | 95 | 76 | 295 | 431 | 311 | 319 | 125 | 350 | 255 | 506 | 228 | 162 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:58PM1.35m | 5:47AM0.94m | 5:46PM1.42m | 6:29AM1.01m | 6:27PM1.49m | 7:06AM1.09m | 7:04PM1.54m | 7:41AM1.17m | 7:40PM1.57m | 8:15AM1.25m | 8:15PM1.57m | 8:49AM1.32m | 8:50PM1.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.39m | 11:07AM0.50m | 00:37AM0.32m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:11AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:43AM0.18m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:14AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.28m | 2:44AM0.10m | 2:39PM0.26m | 3:14AM0.10m | |||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 9 |
306 | 149 | 210 | 121 | 89 | 68 | 88 | 86 | 96 | 95 | 76 | 295 | 431 | 311 | 319 | 125 | 350 | 255 | 506 | 228 | 162 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | S 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 5 | S 17 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 10 | SE 9 |
7 | 138 | 7 | 31 | 23 | 47 | 42 | 27 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 54 | 50 | 37 | 59 | 38 | 37 | 26 | 26 | 85 | 88 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | E 14 | E 14 | ENE 8 | — | ENE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | — | S 16 | S 15 | — | SSE 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
25 | 4 | 4 | 6 | — | 8 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 15 | — | 5 | 18 | — | 111 | 52 | 44 | — | 31 | 32 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | NE 6 | — | NW 3 | NNW 3 | SW 2 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | 15 | 35 | 50 | 37 | 101 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 47 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 221 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Shelley Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Shelley Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Shelley Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Shelley Beach 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 (Shelley Beach) 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 Shelley Beach 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 Shelley Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Newcastle, consider staying in Central Coast which is 20 km (12 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 24 km (15 miles) away, Dee Why, Newcastle and Hornsby.











