Cannibal Bay surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Tuesday 05 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Cannibal Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cannibal Bay sea temperature is
13.7° C
(Which is 2.9°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cannibal Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Cannibal Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 05) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cannibal Bay in the next 16 days are 6.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 11) 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (May 10) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Tue 5th May)4.5ft (1.3m) 15s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 9th May)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 11th May)20ft (6.0m) 14s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Fri night, strong winds from the WSW by Sun night).

Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
0
3
2
2
3
2
0
!
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
16
1
SSW
17
1.4
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
15
2.3
SW
14
4
SSW
14
5.5
SSW
14
6
SW
14
5.5
SW
13
5
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
352
580
573
498
411
394
312
261
257
273
206
556
945
636
752
2037
5391
11580
12932
10089
7637
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
10
NE
10
NNW
15
NNW
15
N
10
N
5
WSW
10
NE
10
W
15
NNE
20
ENE
10
W
20
SSW
30
WSW
30
NW
35
W
35
SW
35
WSW
35
WSW
35
WSW
25
WNW
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
5:20PM2.24m
5:28AM2.17m
6:02PM2.18m
6:12AM2.10m
6:48PM2.12m
7:03AM2.05m
7:39PM2.07m
8:02AM2.03m
8:36PM2.06m
9:03AM2.05m
9:35PM2.08m
10:01AM2.11m
10:32PM2.15m
Low Tide
11:09AM1.02m
11:31PM1.11m
11:50AM1.05m
00:12AM1.14m
12:36PM1.08m
00:59AM1.16m
1:28PM1.10m
1:52AM1.16m
2:26PM1.09m
2:50AM1.14m
3:24PM1.06m
3:50AM1.10m
4:20PM1.01m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
mod rain
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:43
7:43
7:45
7:47
7:48
7:48
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:28
5:27
5:24
5:23
5:22
1
1
3
10
3
2
8
4
1
Temp °C
12
13
12
12
12
13
13
13
13
12
13
12
11
10
11
10
6
7
9
9
10
8
10
9
9
8
10
12
12
12
9
10
10
7
3
5
2
-2
-2
0
1
4
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.7
SW
13
1
SSW
17
1.8
ENE
12
1.2
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
15
2.3
SW
14
0.3
ENE
10
4.5
SSW
15
4
SSW
14
3
S
12
3
SSW
12
Energy kJ
352
580
573
498
411
394
312
261
257
273
170
556
814
636
752
2037
21
7838
5974
2202
2707
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
9
1.2
SW
12
0.3
ENE
4
0.3
NE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.4
NE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.7
ENE
9
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
E
5
1.1
ENE
10
0.8
ENE
11
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
14
0.4
ENE
13
2.3
SSW
14
1.5
SSE
12
Energy kJ
3
444
3
13
16
15
9
12
16
68
206
18
227
140
42
67
59
2091
609
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
9
0.1
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
10
0.4
ENE
8
0.3
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
13
0.5
SSE
15
Energy kJ
3
2
7
2
2
24
11
55
125
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
9
0.4
NE
4
0.4
NNE
9
0.6
NE
9
0.6
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
0.5
E
4
1.4
SSW
16
2.2
SW
8
1.8
SSW
8
0.8
W
4
4
SSW
14
5.5
SSW
14
6
SW
14
5.5
SW
13
5
SW
12
Energy kJ
8
5
32
64
44
150
8
945
632
477
17
5391
11580
12932
10089
7637
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
3
1
1
1
1
4
8
Distance (km)
0
18
0
0
3
0
0
18
0
0
18
0
54
106
58
101
400
106
107
71
25
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
8
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
9
5
8
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
9
5
5
6
5
7
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
8
5
8
  • 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 Cannibal Bay Surf forecast

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

Cannibal Bay is 88 km (55 miles) from Dunedin. If you plan a holiday in Catlins, 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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