Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDN11004

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

Coastal Waters Forecast for New South Wales
Southern Zones: Port Hacking to Gabo Island

Issued at 10:44 am EST on Wednesday 20 May 2026
for the period until midnight EST Friday 22 May 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

A high pressure ridge establishing in the area during today with a trough and low pressure system further offshore and remaining over the Tasman Sea for the next several days, whipping fresh to strong southerly winds and large powerful waves to the coastline mid to late this week.

Illawarra Coast: Port Hacking to Ulladulla

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Illawarra Coast

Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 25 knots turning southerly in the evening. Winds reaching up to 30 knots offshore south of Port Kembla in the late morning and again in the evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 2 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore in the late afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Illawarra Coast

Winds: Southerly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Southerly 20 to 25 knots turning southeasterly 15 to 20 knots during the day. Seas: 1 to 2 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 2 metres, tending southeasterly 2 to 3 metres during the afternoon or evening. 2nd Swell: Northeast to southeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 70% chance of showers. Caution: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as crossing bars by boat and rock fishing.

Batemans Coast: Ulladulla to Montague Island

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Batemans Coast

Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres offshore. 1st Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers offshore, near zero chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore north of Moruya Heads in the late afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Batemans Coast

Winds: Southerly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore during the morning. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres by early evening. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 1 to 2 metres offshore. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots turning southeasterly during the morning. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the evening. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 1.5 metres, tending southeasterly 1.5 to 2 metres during the afternoon or evening. 2nd Swell: East to northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Eden Coast: Montague Island to Gabo Island

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Eden Coast

Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 3 metres offshore. 1st Swell: South to southwesterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 2 metres offshore. 2nd Swell: East to northeasterly 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore south of Merimbula. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers offshore south of Green Cape, 60% chance elsewhere.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Eden Coast

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore early in the morning. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. 1st Swell: Southerly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre later in the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: South to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots turning southeasterly during the morning. Seas: Around 1 metre. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 1.5 metres, tending southeasterly 1.5 to 2 metres during the afternoon or evening. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:05 pm EST Wednesday.

* 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.