Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, ESE swell with 276 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s is also forecast. 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 1.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk Shelley Beach over the next couple weeks. It’s a slow start, but there’s a couple windows worth paddlin’ for.
We kick off on Wednesday, 19 August. Wednesday morning’s the real deal—clean, glassy conditions with a 3ft swell out of the ESE. The combined energy’s moderate at 199, period’s a bit short (7 seconds), but with zero wind, it’ll be real user-friendly for intermediates. Shelley Beach faces the SE, so this little ESE swell wraps in okay. Water temp’s about normal for this time of year—grab a spring suit.
Wednesday arvo, wind picks up from the NE (12 mph), gets choppy—swell bumps to 4ft with a better 10-second period, but quality drops. Thursday morning’s another clean window: light NNE breeze, but the swell’s only 3ft at a short 6 seconds—weak. Then we hit a flat spell. From Friday 21 August through Monday 24 August, it’s tiny—under 2ft most of the time, energy in the single digits. Wind’s okay sometimes, but there’s no push.
Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 August are rainy, bumpy—knee-high junk. Then Thursday 27 August morning, we get a pulse: 3ft from the south, 8-second period, light offshore NNW breeze—clean. Energy hits 249, solid enough for fun. Thursday arvo: 4ft from the SE, 9-second period, clean cross-offshore wind. That’s two sessions that’ll actually feel like surf.
Friday 28 August starts clean with a 3ft SE swell, then wind ruins it arvo. Saturday 29 August turns nasty—12ft of blown-out mess, near-gale onshore—expert-level only. Sunday 30 August through start of September: onshore, scraped-up swell. Monday 31 August has a freakishly long 17-second period at 3ft from the SSE, but onshore wind makes it straight and closed-out.
Best bet is Thursday 27 August: clean 4ft SE swell with a 9-second period and cross-offshore breeze. Wednesday 19 August morning’s a close second for the glass. The rest? Wait it out.
I’m Rusty—see you on that Thursday window.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 16 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 113 | 94 | 276 | 81 | 68 | 50 | 66 | 35 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 49 | 36 | 42 | 58 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:47AM0.94m | 5:46PM1.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:07AM0.50m | 00:37AM0.32m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 23 | 19 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | S 8 | SE 9 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | S 8 | S 5 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 113 | 94 | 10 | 81 | 68 | 50 | 66 | 35 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 37 | 36 | 42 | 42 | 29 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | — | S 8 | E 11 | E 10 | S 13 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | S 10 | S 5 | S 5 | ENE 6 | S 9 | NE 9 | NE 4 | NE 8 | NE 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 100 | 80 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 15 | — | — | S 14 | — | S 12 | S 11 | SE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 4 | ENE 6 | SSE 16 | NE 8 | ENE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 |
| kJ | 29 | 25 | 4 | — | — | 4 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 49 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 10 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | — | — | WNW 2 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | — | ENE 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 276 | 49 | 31 | 46 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 58 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 349 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 219 | 335 | 296 | 128 | 41 | 366 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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