Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 7s period, NE swell with 596 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s 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 (Sep 01) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 2.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Shelley Beach across the next few weeks.
We start off with some clean, small waves, but nothing special until we hit the second week. There’s a quiet stretch from late in the first week into the start of the second, then one day fires up proper.
Tuesday the 1st of September: a 3ft south swell, 11-second period, with a light north cross-off breeze. Water’s at 64°, normal for the season. Combined energy is moderate (221). Clean and rideable, but not a standout.
Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd drop fast – down to 2ft to 2ft south swell. Offshore wind on Thursday morning, but energy is weak (97). Barely worth wetting the suit.
Friday the 4th brings a little bump – 4ft of south swell, 10 seconds, light cross-off, combined energy moderate (275). Surfable, but still not the day.
Then we hit a dry spell from Saturday the 5th to Monday the 7th. Swell fades, winds turn onshore or messy. A few days where you’re better off staying home.
Tuesday the 8th is a weird mix – a 3ft east-northeast windswell in the morning with offshore wind, but it’s short period (8 seconds). The afternoon glass-off gives you 2ft of south swell at 10 seconds, but it’s tiny.
The real standout is Thursday the 10th of September. Shelley Beach pulls in a solid 8ft south swell, with a long 13-second period and glassy offshores in the morning. Combined energy is huge – very strong (2460). This is a proper groundswell, clean and powerful. But that’s expert territory – over 8ft is serious, and with that long period (over 11 seconds) at a beach break, it could close out or get shifty. For the crew with skills, this is easily the best session on offer. The morning of the 10th is the window.
After that, it’s a slow fade. Friday the 11th drops to 5ft with cross-shore winds, and from Saturday the 12th onward it’s small, weak, and mostly choppy or cross-onshore. Not worth the paddle.
So, the call is simple: the first week’s small and average. The absolute highlight is the morning of Thursday the 10th – big, clean, and powerful. That’s your day if you’re good enough. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 198 | 146 | 102 | 75 | 78 | 50 | 49 | 52 | 33 | 254 | 68 | 36 | 79 | 46 | 25 | 319 | 126 | 119 | 254 | 149 | 161 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:41AM1.45m | 10:52PM1.27m | 11:26AM1.45m | 11:44PM1.14m | 12:20PM1.44m | 00:50AM1.03m | 1:25PM1.43m | 2:14AM0.96m | 2:40PM1.44m | 3:44AM0.96m | 3:54PM1.49m | 4:59AM1.02m | 5:00PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:55PM0.29m | 4:58AM0.24m | 5:52PM0.33m | 5:42AM0.32m | 7:01PM0.37m | 6:37AM0.40m | 8:22PM0.37m | 7:47AM0.46m | 9:46PM0.33m | 9:08AM0.47m | 10:57PM0.24m | 10:24AM0.43m | 11:54PM0.15m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 24 | 26 | 20 | 26 | 26 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 29 | 27 | 22 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 5 | S 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | NE 6 | S 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 198 | 146 | 102 | 75 | 78 | 50 | 49 | 52 | 21 | 254 | 68 | 28 | 79 | 46 | 10 | 319 | 126 | 119 | 254 | 149 | 161 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 11 | ENE 5 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 11 | NE 5 | E 9 | NE 6 | S 9 | NE 6 | S 12 | ENE 4 | E 10 | — | S 10 |
| kJ | 14 | 37 | 19 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 18 | 19 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 25 | 6 | 48 | 21 | 8 | — | 96 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | NE 12 | ENE 10 | NE 5 | NE 6 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | NE 5 | ENE 10 | NE 7 | S 18 | S 11 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | S 13 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | 6 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 30 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 36 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 89 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | NE 4 | NW 2 | NW 3 | — | NW 2 | NNW 3 | W 4 | W 3 | — | ENE 3 | — | NNE 5 | W 3 | — | SSW 4 | ESE 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | NNW 2 |
| kJ | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | 8 | — | 16 | 3 | — | 6 | 3 | 32 | 23 | 112 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 11 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 82 | 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.
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