The Cliff surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Tuesday 19 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
21.1° 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 Tuesday (May 19) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 10s period. 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 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Tue 19th May)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s
Best Surf 4AM (Wed 20th May)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 1PM (Wed 20th May)8ft (2.5m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
4
3
3
4
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
E
10
1.9
E
10
2.2
S
8
3
S
9
2.2
S
10
2
S
9
2.2
S
9
2.4
S
9
2.2
SSE
8
1.9
SSE
8
1.4
ESE
9
1.7
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
9
2
ESE
10
2
E
11
2.1
E
11
2
E
11
1.8
E
11
2.3
SSE
8
2.2
S
9
1.4
E
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
786
753
609
1358
904
685
777
879
568
430
300
561
641
820
918
1065
953
776
655
794
441
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
15
WSW
15
SW
15
SW
25
S
25
SW
30
S
30
SSW
25
S
25
SSE
25
S
20
SSE
20
SSE
10
ESE
10
WNW
5
NW
10
NNW
15
W
15
WSW
30
SSW
35
S
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
10:15AM1.33m
10:17PM1.92m
11:14AM1.30m
11:12PM1.85m
12:16PM1.27m
00:10AM1.76m
1:21PM1.27m
1:11AM1.66m
2:26PM1.30m
2:14AM1.55m
3:27PM1.35m
3:16AM1.46m
4:21PM1.42m
Low Tide
3:44PM0.48m
5:11AM0.23m
4:40PM0.55m
6:10AM0.28m
5:41PM0.62m
7:09AM0.33m
6:49PM0.67m
8:07AM0.38m
8:00PM0.70m
9:02AM0.42m
9:13PM0.68m
9:51AM0.44m
10:21PM0.64m
light rain
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
4:59
4:58
4:58
4:57
4:57
4:55
2
4
2
1
1
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
Temp °C
18
19
16
16
17
17
17
18
19
18
18
18
18
19
17
19
20
17
17
18
18
18
18
13
12
12
12
12
12
14
13
14
14
16
19
17
19
19
14
12
12
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
E
10
1.9
E
10
1.8
S
8
2
S
9
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
0.9
E
10
0.9
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.8
E
9
1.4
ESE
9
1.7
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
9
2
ESE
10
2
E
11
2.1
E
11
2
E
11
1.8
E
11
1.6
E
11
1.5
E
11
1.4
E
11
Energy kJ
786
753
412
694
244
194
153
149
113
104
300
561
641
820
918
1065
953
776
584
526
441
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
E
10
1.2
E
10
0.1
S
17
0.2
S
14
0.3
S
12
0.7
S
8
0.4
SSW
9
0.6
SSE
7
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
12
0.1
S
17
0.3
SSE
16
1.3
S
8
Energy kJ
479
296
6
16
25
55
26
42
4
4
3
6
50
193
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
14
0.2
S
12
0.1
S
21
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
8
1
S
13
Energy kJ
35
11
9
7
1
366
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
3
2.2
S
8
3
S
9
2.2
S
10
2
S
9
2.2
S
9
2.4
S
9
2.2
SSE
8
1.9
SSE
8
1.5
SSE
8
1.1
S
8
0.9
SSE
4
2.3
SSE
8
2.2
S
9
Energy kJ
3
609
1358
904
685
777
879
568
430
259
145
25
655
794
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
2
1
1
2
4
1
1
2
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
4
4
2
Distance (km)
0
0
7
3
3
3
110
176
183
183
198
42
42
41
0
0
0
0
0
94
213
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
6
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
7
5
5
7
9
5
4
4
5
6
  • 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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