
Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, S swell with 534 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. 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 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
First off, we’re looking at a pretty tough run for a while. There’s a handful of tiny windows for something surfable, but honestly, for the first week and a half you’ll be working hard for scraps. The best of the whole 16-day window is clustered around the 24th and 25th, so don’t give up hope.
Shelley Beach is our only spot on the cards. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is about 1° cooler than usual for this time of year – pretty much average, nothing wild.
We kick off on Tuesday the 11th of August. The morning is clean but tiny, with a weak 2ft SSW swell (107 energy). Not worth suiting up. The afternoon though, suddenly there’s a pulse: 5ft of S swell at 11 seconds, energy jumping to 564. That’s a solid combo of size and period, and with cross-off wind it’s going to be clean. This is your first real window. It’s the start of the action.
Wednesday the 12th starts alright with a 4ft S swell, but the real gem is the afternoon: a 3ft S swell, but with offshore wind from the WNW. That glassy, clean face will make the small waves ride a lot better than you’d think. A fun little session.
Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are messy. Onshore winds and poor conditions. Skip it.
Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th start to get some size (5ft to 6ft) but it’s short period SSE slop, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. The whole week after that, from the 17th to the 23rd, is a long run of mostly poor surf with onshore winds. There’s a tiny window on Saturday the 22nd morning with a clean 3ft ESE swell and cross-off breeze, but it’s marginal. Sunday the 23rd morning is glassy, but again only 3ft of weak E swell. Ordinary.
Now, here’s the standout. Monday the 24th of August morning – mark it. A clean 3ft S swell with a 9-second period, light cross-off breeze from the NNE, and the energy is 276. It’s not huge, but it’s clean, and the S direction is what this break wants. The best of the run-up.
Then Tuesday the 25th of August morning – this is the best on offer. 4ft of NE swell, but it’s short period at 6 seconds, so don’t expect bombs. The energy is 364 (moderate), and more importantly, it’s clean with a cross-off NNE breeze. It’s not a groundswell, but for Shelley Beach, clean and surfable is a win.
After that, the 26th Wednesday morning goes glassy again but drops to 3ft. Clean, but small.
So, the pick: Tuesday the 11th afternoon for that first solid S swell, and then Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th mornings for the cleanest, most consistent windows. The 25th morning is the best of the lot.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
54 | 515 | 457 | 233 | 132 | 93 | 82 | 228 | 217 | 153 | 134 | 132 | 131 | 301 | 262 | 189 | 232 | 317 | 204 | 173 | 132 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 7:01PM1.78m | 7:49AM1.20m | 7:50PM1.80m | 8:34AM1.27m | 8:36PM1.76m | 9:17AM1.32m | 9:19PM1.68m | 9:58AM1.36m | 10:01PM1.54m | 10:39AM1.38m | 10:43PM1.39m | 11:21AM1.37m | 11:25PM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:29PM0.27m | 1:49AM-0.00m | 1:22PM0.22m | 2:33AM-0.03m | 2:12PM0.20m | 3:13AM-0.02m | 3:01PM0.20m | 3:50AM0.03m | 3:50PM0.23m | 4:26AM0.10m | 4:39PM0.29m | 5:00AM0.19m | 5:30PM0.36m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | E 10 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
54 | 515 | 457 | 233 | 132 | 93 | 82 | 228 | 217 | 153 | 134 | 132 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 55 | 44 | 8 | 204 | 173 | 132 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | S 14 | S 19 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 18 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 |
50 | 49 | 48 | 31 | 46 | 45 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | — | 33 | 27 | 19 | 20 | 6 | 39 | 57 | 50 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | — | — | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 19 | S 15 | S 19 | SSE 19 | S 16 | S 20 | S 14 | — | — | — | ENE 10 | S 14 | S 16 | — |
3 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 37 | 20 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | 10 | 4 | 5 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | — | W 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | — | — | — |
4 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 131 | 301 | 262 | 189 | 232 | 317 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 41 | 11 | 162 | 571 | 131 | 216 | 216 | 81 |
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.











