Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDN11003

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

Updated Coastal Waters Forecast for New South Wales
Central Zones: Seal Rocks to Ulladulla

Issued at 4:33 am EDT on Thursday 11 December 2025
for the period until midnight EDT Saturday 13 December 2025.

Please be aware
Wind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

Southerly winds persisting about the southern half of the coast as a trough stalls off the Hunter and Sydney coast. Winds will tend east to northeasterly from today as a high pressure system gradually drifts into the Tasman Sea, with winds turning northerly over the weekend. The next southerly change is expected during Sunday and Monday.

Hunter Coast: Seal Rocks to Broken Bay

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: South to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots tending east to southeasterly during the day. Winds reaching up to 20 knots south of Port Stephens in the late morning and afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres south of Port Stephens around midday. Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots turning northeasterly during the morning. Winds reaching up to 20 knots offshore north of Norah Head in the late evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. 1st Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Northeasterly 15 to 20 knots turning northerly 15 to 25 knots during the morning. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore north of Port Stephens during the afternoon or evening. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to around 1 metre south of Port Stephens. Weather: Mostly sunny day. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Sydney Coast: Broken Bay to Port Hacking

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots turning southeasterly during the morning and early afternoon. Winds reaching up to 25 knots offshore in the late afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots turning northeasterly in the late morning. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Northeasterly 10 to 15 knots tending northerly 15 to 20 knots during the morning. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the afternoon or evening. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Illawarra Coast: Port Hacking to Ulladulla

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots tending east to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the day. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres north of Point Perpendicular. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots turning northeasterly in the late morning. Winds reaching up to 20 knots offshore south of Point Perpendicular in the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Northerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, tending northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 10:00 am EDT Thursday.

* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones.

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones.