The Cliff surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 pm Monday 18 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 Monday (May 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s 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+)10PM (Mon 18th May)5ft (1.6m) 9s
Best Surf 1AM (Tue 19th 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 43mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri night, min 17°C on Thu afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat night).

Mon
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
4
3
1
3
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
9
1.9
E
10
1.8
E
10
1.5
E
10
2.5
S
9
2.4
S
10
2.2
S
9
2.5
S
9
2.3
S
9
2.3
SSE
8
2.2
SSE
8
2.2
SSE
8
2.1
SE
8
2
SE
9
1.6
ESE
11
1.8
ESE
10
1.8
E
10
1.8
E
10
1.8
ESE
10
1.6
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
666
1003
710
663
470
1083
1070
818
985
809
737
666
634
649
582
551
721
679
679
721
541
Wind (km/h)
25
NE
10
WSW
5
NW
20
SW
10
WSW
20
SW
25
S
25
SW
30
SSW
35
SSW
30
S
30
S
30
S
25
SSE
25
S
20
S
5
WNW
10
WSW
5
SE
10
SW
15
SW
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-off
on
cross
cross
High Tide
9:25PM1.95m
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
Low Tide
4:14AM0.20m
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
mod rain
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<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
5:00
4:59
4:58
4:58
4:57
4:57
4:55
8
13
3
4
6
1
4
4
3
4
1
5
Temp °C
20
17
17
18
16
17
17
17
16
18
18
18
18
19
18
19
18
18
18
18
18
18
19
18
16
15
12
12
12
10
13
12
13
12
14
15
19
18
17
18
18
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.9
E
10
1.8
E
10
1.6
S
8
1.8
S
9
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
1
E
10
1
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.7
E
9
0.6
E
9
2.1
SE
8
2
SE
9
1.6
ESE
11
1.8
ESE
10
1.8
E
10
1.8
E
10
1.8
ESE
10
1.6
E
10
Energy kJ
445
521
710
663
334
556
244
194
192
196
121
81
60
649
582
551
721
679
679
721
541
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
E
10
1.3
E
10
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
15
0.2
S
12
1.4
SSE
8
1
SSE
8
0.8
SSE
8
0.7
SSE
7
0.2
S
11
1
SSE
6
Energy kJ
470
340
6
4
11
261
110
71
42
10
64
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
20
0.2
SSE
17
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
20
0.3
SSE
17
Energy kJ
8
28
4
3
8
56
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
ENE
9
2.5
ENE
9
0.4
SSW
4
2.5
S
9
2.4
S
10
2.2
S
9
2.5
S
9
2.3
S
9
2.3
SSE
8
2.2
SSE
8
2.2
SSE
8
0.4
SSW
3
1.3
SSE
6
Energy kJ
666
1003
7
1083
1070
818
985
809
737
666
634
3
133
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
2
3
4
1
1
3
2
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
45
0
0
3
0
7
3
3
90
110
218
183
183
210
3
7
0
0
3
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
7
5
5
5
4
  • 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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