The Cliff surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Wednesday 13 May 2026 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
The Cliff surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's The Cliff sea temperature is
21.0° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Cliff this week:

The surf forecast for The Cliff over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 15) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Cliff in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Fri 15th May)4ft (1.2m) 7s
Best Surf 7AM (Sun 17th May)7ft (2.2m) 9s
Most Powerful 7PM (Sun 17th May)7.5ft (2.3m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Cliff over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Wed night, min 17°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
3
2
0
2
1
3
2
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SE
7
1.6
SE
7
1.6
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.1
ESE
7
1.2
SE
7
1
ESE
7
1.6
ESE
9
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.9
E
9
2.1
ENE
8
1.5
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.8
ENE
9
1.4
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.4
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
189
221
236
163
129
121
136
113
147
105
394
509
371
567
618
349
517
477
299
335
313
Wind (km/h)
20
ESE
25
ESE
20
ESE
20
ESE
10
ESE
5
E
10
SSW
10
ESE
5
WNW
10
SSW
10
SE
5
N
10
NNE
25
NE
25
NE
20
NNE
5
NNW
20
NNE
25
NNE
15
NNE
15
NW
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
on
glassy
cross
on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
5:31PM1.54m
5:42AM1.45m
6:15PM1.67m
6:36AM1.45m
7:00PM1.79m
7:30AM1.44m
7:47PM1.88m
8:23AM1.41m
8:35PM1.93m
9:18AM1.38m
9:25PM1.95m
10:15AM1.33m
10:17PM1.92m
Low Tide
11:06AM0.40m
11:43PM0.49m
11:49AM0.37m
00:37AM0.37m
12:32PM0.35m
1:31AM0.28m
1:17PM0.35m
2:24AM0.22m
2:03PM0.37m
3:18AM0.19m
2:52PM0.42m
4:14AM0.20m
3:44PM0.48m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:33
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:37
6:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:04
5:02
5:01
5:01
5:00
5:00
5:00
4
5
3
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
3
4
1
3
Temp °C
19
19
20
20
20
19
19
20
19
19
19
19
22
21
19
20
17
19
18
18
18
15
15
17
17
19
18
18
19
20
18
18
19
20
18
17
19
18
18
16
18
18
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
S
10
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
10
1.3
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
7
1.1
ESE
7
1.2
SE
7
1
ESE
7
1.6
ESE
9
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.4
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.4
E
9
Energy kJ
96
96
70
163
129
121
136
113
147
105
394
509
371
390
476
349
349
348
299
335
313
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
E
11
0.4
E
11
0.3
E
11
0.7
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.6
S
9
0.4
SSE
9
0.5
S
9
0.3
E
9
0.4
SSE
7
0.3
S
9
0.1
S
8
0.1
S
8
Energy kJ
38
38
21
79
56
59
27
40
15
21
13
1
1
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
SSE
21
0.3
SSE
18
0.2
SSE
16
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.1
S
16
0.2
E
9
0.1
S
15
0.4
SSE
8
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
12
Energy kJ
45
61
24
9
8
8
5
7
4
24
3
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SE
7
1.6
SE
7
1.6
ESE
7
1.9
E
9
2.1
ENE
8
1.8
E
9
1.8
ENE
9
Energy kJ
189
221
236
567
618
517
477
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
243
290
243
243
42
0
3
7
0
3
3
0
0
133
78
33
0
33
78
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
4
4
3
2
3
3
2
2
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
3
2
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
9
8
9
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
4
4
5
4
4
6
5
5
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the The Cliff Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for The Cliff provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Cliff can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Cliff 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 (The Cliff) 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 The Cliff 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.

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