The Reef surfForecast / QLD – Sunshine Coast / Australia

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 pm Monday 22 Dec 2025 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
The Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's The Reef sea temperature is
25.8° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Reef this week:

The surf forecast for The Reef over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Dec 23) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Reef in the next 12 days are 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Dec 29) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Dec 24) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Tue 23rd Dec)5ft (1.5m) 6s
Best Surf 4AM (Tue 23rd Dec)5ft (1.5m) 6s
Most Powerful10AM (Mon 29th Dec)7ft (2.2m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 43mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Mon afternoon, calm by Wed afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Fri afternoon). Mainly fresh winds.

Mon
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.9
NE
1.3
NNE
1
NE
1.4
NNE
1.6
NE
0.9
NNE
0.4
NE
0.3
ENE
1
N
1.4
NNE
1.7
SSE
2
SE
1.8
SE
1.7
ESE
1.6
E
1.6
E
1.4
E
1.4
E
1.6
E
2.1
E
2.2
ESE
Period(s) (?)66666613136667777666667
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)2441367512415543463459122178345286255233202143129199379458
Wind
(km/h)
30
NNE
25
NNW
20
NNE
20
ENE
20
NNW
5
NNW
5
NW
15
NW
10
N
25
NNE
25
SSE
25
SE
25
SE
20
ESE
25
ESE
25
ESE
25
ESE
25
ESE
30
SE
30
SE
30
SE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
glasscross-
off
crosscrosscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
ononononcross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
9:32PM
1.19
10:09AM
1.80
10:13PM
1.18
10:48AM
1.75
10:57PM
1.19
11:29AM
1.68
11:48PM
1.21
12:15PM
1.60
12:46AM
1.25
1:07PM
1.51
1:53AM
1.32
2:07PM
1.42
3:05AM
1.42
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:09PM
0.43
3:21AM
0.27
4:48PM
0.43
4:02AM
0.31
5:27PM
0.44
4:47AM
0.36
6:09PM
0.45
5:39AM
0.43
6:54PM
0.46
6:41AM
0.50
7:43PM
0.45
7:54AM
0.55
8:36PM
0.42
9:14AM
0.57
Mon
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Sunrise--4:50--4:50--4:52--4:52--4:52--4:52--4:54
Sunset6:39--6:39--6:40--6:40--6:42--6:42--6:43--
part cloud
clear
cloud
thunderstorm
heavy rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
---2113351--82410532-2-1
Temp. °C282630262325252430282524232324232323232324
Feels °C (?)272631282528302532282724232222212220201918
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for The Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our The Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


false

Information about the The Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for The Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at The Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Reef 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 Reef) 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 Reef 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.

The Reef is 2 km (1 miles) from Caloundra. If you plan a holiday in Sunshine Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Caloundra. Caloundra has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest