Bluecliffs surfForecast / Southland / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Friday 22 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Bluecliffs surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Bluecliffs sea temperature is
13.3° C
(Which is 1.7°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bluecliffs this week:

The surf forecast for Bluecliffs over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 22) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bluecliffs in the next 16 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 23) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (May 27) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Fri 22nd May)3.5ft (1.1m) 12s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 22nd May)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 23rd May)11ft (3.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bluecliffs over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
5
5
2
4
4
3
3
3
3
0
3
4
4
4
3
3
4
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SSW
12
1
SSW
12
3
WSW
13
3.5
SW
12
2.3
SSW
15
2.1
SW
16
1.7
SW
16
1.3
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
13
1.1
SSW
12
1.2
SSW
12
1.2
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
14
2
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
15
1.5
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
412
304
2676
3865
2336
2242
1394
577
829
484
377
378
385
996
1578
1083
752
643
1386
961
818
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
5
WNW
10
NW
10
WNW
15
SW
5
WNW
5
NNE
5
SE
5
NNW
10
NNW
5
NW
15
SSW
10
ENE
10
ENE
10
NNE
10
N
10
N
15
N
15
NNE
10
ENE
10
SE
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
off
glassy
off
off
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
4:51PM1.93m
5:10AM1.93m
5:55PM1.86m
6:16AM1.87m
6:59PM1.82m
7:21AM1.83m
7:57PM1.81m
8:20AM1.82m
8:48PM1.82m
9:12AM1.83m
9:34PM1.85m
9:58AM1.85m
10:15PM1.87m
Low Tide
10:30AM0.23m
11:00PM0.44m
11:35AM0.31m
00:06AM0.48m
12:40PM0.36m
1:10AM0.48m
1:40PM0.40m
2:08AM0.46m
2:35PM0.42m
3:00AM0.43m
3:23PM0.43m
3:46AM0.41m
4:07PM0.44m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:11
8:12
8:14
8:15
8:15
8:17
8:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:21
5:20
5:19
5:17
5:17
5:16
5:15
11
5
5
5
7
Temp °C
9
11
11
12
12
9
9
11
9
13
14
11
9
8
10
13
13
12
11
11
11
7
9
8
10
9
8
7
10
7
12
13
7
7
6
8
11
10
9
8
10
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SSW
12
1
SSW
12
1
SW
12
1.7
SSW
13
2.3
SSW
15
2.1
SW
16
1.7
SW
16
1.3
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
13
1.1
SSW
12
1.2
SSW
12
1.2
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
14
2
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
15
1.5
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
15
Energy kJ
412
304
282
890
2336
2242
1394
577
829
484
377
378
385
996
1578
1083
752
643
1386
961
818
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
12
0.7
SW
15
0.8
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
0.4
WSW
13
0.3
WSW
13
0.6
WSW
12
0.3
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
16
1.3
SW
14
Energy kJ
154
212
208
346
68
34
115
60
310
648
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
15
0.6
SW
12
1
WSW
13
Energy kJ
220
118
339
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
WSW
13
3.5
SW
12
1.8
W
7
Energy kJ
2676
3865
302
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
4
4
3
3
4
3
3
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
185
0
0
0
0
0
0
216
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
28
Best forecast wave conditions in Southland
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
5
5
4
5
4
4
4
3
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
5
5
6
8
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
5
5
4
4
4
5
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
7
6
5
6
8
5
5
6
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
9
8
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Bluecliffs Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Bluecliffs provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bluecliffs can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bluecliffs 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 (Bluecliffs) 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 Bluecliffs 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.

Dunedin - Blue Tops is 22 km (14 miles) from Dunedin. If you plan a holiday in Otago, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dunedin. Dunedin has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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