Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDN11004

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

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

Issued at 10:38 am EST on Monday 18 May 2026
for the period until midnight EST Wednesday 20 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 strong high pressure system over the southern Tasman Sea will slowly drift east towards New Zealand over the next several days while directing an onshore easterly airstream over the coastal waters of New South Wales. A coastal trough is expected to deepen about the north coast early this week, deepening into a Tasman Low, shifting winds to the south and bringing unsettled weather.

Illawarra Coast: Port Hacking to Ulladulla

Forecast for Monday 18 May until midnight

Winds: North to northwesterly about 10 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore north of Point Perpendicular in the late evening. Seas: Below 0.5 metres, increasing to around 1 metre offshore. Swell: Northeasterly 2 to 3 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore north of Point Perpendicular in the late afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Tuesday 19 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Illawarra Coast

Winds: Northerly 15 to 20 knots shifting southwesterly 15 to 25 knots before dawn. Winds reaching up to 30 knots during the afternoon and evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning, then increasing to 2 to 3 metres around midday. 1st Swell: Northeasterly 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres during the morning. 2nd Swell: Southerly below 0.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then tending south to southwesterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres during the afternoon. Weather: Cloudy. Near 100% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore in the late afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May

Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 30 knots turning southerly 25 to 30 knots during the evening. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres offshore. 1st Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres during the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Batemans Coast: Ulladulla to Montague Island

Forecast for Monday 18 May until midnight

Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Northeasterly 2 to 2.5 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of rain.

Forecast for Tuesday 19 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Batemans Coast

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming southwesterly 15 to 25 knots in the morning. Winds reaching up to 30 knots during the afternoon and evening. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning, then increasing to 2 to 3 metres during the afternoon. 1st Swell: Northeasterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: Southerly below 0.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore north of Moruya Heads in the late afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May

Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 3 metres offshore. 1st Swell: South to southwesterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 2nd Swell: Northeasterly 2 metres, tending easterly 1.5 to 2 metres during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Eden Coast: Montague Island to Gabo Island

Forecast for Monday 18 May until midnight

Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Northeasterly 2 to 2.5 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of rain.

Forecast for Tuesday 19 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Eden Coast

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming southwesterly 15 to 25 knots in the early morning. Winds reaching up to 30 knots during the day. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then increasing to 2 to 3 metres around midday. 1st Swell: Northeasterly 1.5 to 2 metres. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre north of Merimbula. Weather: Cloudy. Near 100% chance of rain.

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May

Winds: Southwesterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 3 metres. 1st Swell: Southwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres, tending southerly 1 to 2 metres during the afternoon or evening. 2nd Swell: Northeasterly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres during the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

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