Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, S swell with 258 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. 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 1.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. I’ve had a proper look at Shelley Beach and, honestly, it’s a bit of a flat spell for the next stretch. There’s no real kick to get excited about for a while. The water is sitting at 64°, which is about average for this time of year.
The best of a quiet bunch looks like Wednesday the 19th in the morning. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell rolling in from the ESE with a period of 10 seconds – that’s actually a groundswell, so it’ll have a bit more shape, but it’s small. The magic here is the wind: glassy, dead calm from the SSW. That’ll make the surface like a mirror. It’s a clean, quiet option if you just need a paddle. The energy is moderate, sitting at 183. A few days later, on Saturday the 22nd, it’s even smaller at 1ft with a clean offshore from the WSW, but it’s barely a ripple.
After that, there’s a long gap of absolutely nothing worth chasing until we hit Monday the 24th. That morning brings a 2ft southerly groundswell (10-second period) with clean conditions under a light offshore WNW wind. The energy is moderate at 101. It’s not a standout, but it’s the closest to a surfable wave in that quiet patch. Tuesday morning the 25th is messy with a cross-onshore wind and only 2ft, so skip it.
The real kicker in this outlook is the end of the period, but it comes with a warning. From Saturday the 29th into the start of September, the swell jumps up. Saturday morning the 29th sees 6ft from the south, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore at 19 mph, making it lumpy and poor. Sunday the 30th is similar, with 6ft in the morning and then 8ft in the afternoon – that’s expert territory, and with a cross-onshore wind, it’s just a messy, choppy wall. The energy is very strong (900 in the afternoon). Tuesday the 1st of September looks more promising: a 5ft south swell with a longer 13-second period, and only a light cross-onshore breeze. The energy is still strong at 907, and the wind is light, so there’s potential for better shaped waves. It’s worth watching, but it’s a long way off and things can change.
If you’ve got a kite, those blustery days from the 29th might be more your scene than a paddle board. For the rest of us, hang tight for the 1st of September; it’s the only one that looks like it might have a pulse with clean-ish edges.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu night, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 7 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSE 19 | S 9 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 99 | 105 | 105 | 113 | 80 | 175 | 81 | 58 | 63 | 47 | 30 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 34 | 39 | 42 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 4:54AM0.89m | 4:58PM1.35m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.39m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | ESE 7 | S 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ENE 5 | ESE 7 | E 10 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 9 | S 9 | S 7 |
| kJ | 46 | 105 | 55 | 113 | 80 | 175 | 36 | 58 | 2 | 47 | 30 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 39 | 24 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | S 8 | SE 14 | ESE 11 | E 6 | S 8 | SE 9 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 8 | ENE 9 | ESE 4 |
| kJ | 12 | 35 | 47 | 100 | 24 | 12 | 81 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 30 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | E 9 | E 10 | S 10 | SE 8 | — | E 12 | — | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 8 | SSE 19 | S 5 | S 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 35 | — | 3 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 34 | 5 | 42 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | — | ESE 7 | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 5 | — | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SE 5 | E 4 |
| kJ | 99 | — | 105 | — | — | 4 | 74 | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 17 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 63 | 81 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 219 | 228 | 219 | 296 | 161 | 0 | 171 | 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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