Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, S swell with 639 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 Sunday (Aug 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Shelley Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this outlook is a bit of a slow burner. For the first few days, from Sunday the 16th right through to Wednesday the 20th, the surf is pretty ordinary. It’s small, mostly under 3ft, and the wind’s often messy. You’ll be looking at a lot of poor surf conditions with very little energy in the water. Not really worth paddling out for.
The first real chance to wet a line comes on Thursday the 20th in the morning. It’s not big, just 3ft from the ESE, but the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze, so it’s clean. The energy is weak, and the waves are just surfable. It’s a small window, but it’s something.
Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd mornings are similar – small (2ft to 3ft) from the ENE, but with a clean, gentle offshore wind. The energy is still low, but the conditions are clean. For a patient soul on a longboard, it’s doable, but you won’t be getting any bombs.
Now, hold onto your board, because Tuesday the 25th of August is the real standout. The morning brings a solid 7ft swell from the south, and the energy jumps right up – that’s some serious power. The swell period is 11 seconds, a proper groundswell, so it’ll have shape. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, which isn’t perfect, but it’s workable. However, this is big. Over 8ft in the afternoon (8ft from the south, 13-second period), so this is strictly for the experts. Beginners, stay on the beach and watch. For everyone else, this is the best energy on offer, but it’s going to be a heavy, powerful day. The cross-onshore wind in the afternoon is going to make it lumpy, so the morning is your only chance to get a piece of it.
The rest of the second week fades back into small, low-energy swell, with a few glimmers of clean conditions on the 29th and 31st in the mornings. But honestly, the main story is that Tuesday the 25th. It’s the only one that’s really got the size and power to get the heart pumping, even if the wind isn’t perfect.
The water temp is sitting at 63°F, which is about 2°F cooler than average for this time of year – nothing to write home about, just a normal late winter chill.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | SE 7 | S 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | S 6 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
181 | 140 | 181 | 91 | 88 | 81 | 96 | 91 | 102 | 86 | 137 | 151 | 66 | 66 | 81 | 58 | 44 | 59 | 72 | 206 | 422 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:39AM1.38m | 10:43PM1.39m | 11:21AM1.37m | 11:25PM1.23m | 12:04PM1.35m | 00:11AM1.08m | 12:53PM1.32m | 1:06AM0.96m | 1:49PM1.28m | 2:17AM0.88m | 2:54PM1.27m | 3:41AM0.86m | 4:00PM1.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:39PM0.29m | 5:00AM0.19m | 5:30PM0.36m | 5:34AM0.29m | 6:26PM0.44m | 6:11AM0.39m | 7:30PM0.50m | 6:54AM0.47m | 8:46PM0.53m | 7:49AM0.53m | 10:05PM0.51m | 8:59AM0.56m | 11:09PM0.46m | ||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 18 | SE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | S 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | SSE 8 |
61 | 140 | 66 | 91 | 88 | 81 | 96 | 91 | 92 | 86 | 14 | 151 | 66 | 66 | 81 | 58 | 44 | 59 | 72 | 37 | 422 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | — | S 8 | E 11 | E 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 18 | NE 8 |
19 | 98 | 181 | 81 | 76 | 35 | 34 | 55 | 102 | 80 | — | 10 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSE 18 | SE 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | S 12 | E 9 | ESE 14 | S 10 | S 8 | S 15 | — | — | — | S 12 | — | S 11 | SE 7 | S 7 | — | — |
11 | 61 | 7 | 62 | 51 | 11 | 6 | 71 | 45 | 21 | 4 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | — | — | ENE 4 | — | — | — | NW 3 | SW 3 | S 6 | — |
181 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 137 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 206 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 81 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 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.











