Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDN11003

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

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

Issued at 4:05 pm EST on Monday 20 July 2026
for the period until midnight EST Thursday 23 July 2026.

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

Strong south to southeasterly winds and large powerful waves along the north coast are gradually easing as a low and a trough over the Coral Sea continue to weaken. Meanwhile, winds over the southern and central parts of the coast are turning northerly as a strong high pressure system over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge across much of the state. Then, a cold front crossing the state mid to late this week will bring a fresh to strong southwesterly wind change in its wake.

Hunter Coast: Seal Rocks to Broken Bay

Forecast for Monday 20 July until midnight

Winds: East to northeasterly below 10 knots. Seas: Below 0.5 metres. 1st Swell: Easterly 2 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Tuesday 21 July

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming northeasterly 10 to 15 knots in the early afternoon then tending northerly in the late evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to northeasterly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres later in the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Wednesday 22 July

Winds: Northerly 10 to 15 knots turning west to northwesterly during the day. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 23 July

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots turning southwesterly 15 to 20 knots during the day. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the evening. 1st Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. 2nd Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Sydney Coast: Broken Bay to Port Hacking

Forecast for Monday 20 July until midnight

Winds: North to northeasterly about 10 knots. Seas: Below 0.5 metres. 1st Swell: Easterly 2 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Mostly clear.

Forecast for Tuesday 21 July

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming north to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots in the morning then tending north to northeasterly in the early afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. 1st Swell: Easterly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Wednesday 22 July

Winds: Northerly 10 to 15 knots turning west to northwesterly during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre, decreasing below 0.5 metres by early evening. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, tending northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 23 July

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots turning southwesterly 15 to 20 knots during the day. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 metres during the evening. Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Illawarra Coast: Port Hacking to Ulladulla

Forecast for Monday 20 July until midnight

Winds: Northerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots south of Port Kembla during the afternoon and evening. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres south of Port Kembla by early evening. 1st Swell: Northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore north of Port Kembla. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Clear.

Forecast for Tuesday 21 July

Winds: Northerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres south of Port Kembla. 1st Swell: Northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre by early evening. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Wednesday 22 July

Winds: North to northwesterly 15 to 20 knots tending west to northwesterly during the morning. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning, then increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres later in the evening. Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore north of Port Kembla. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 23 July

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots turning southwesterly 15 to 25 knots during the day. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres south of Port Kembla during the evening. 2nd Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 10:00 pm EST Monday.

* 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.