Charleston surf break

Charleston surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Saturday 06 Dec 2025 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Charleston surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Charleston sea temperature is
16.3° C
(Which is 1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Charleston this week:

The surf forecast for Charleston over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Dec 07) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Charleston in the next 12 days are 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Dec 08) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 16s period and expected on Sunday (Dec 07) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sun 7th Dec)7ft (2.2m) 13s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 7th Dec)7ft (2.2m) 13s
Most Powerful10AM (Mon 8th Dec)10ft (3.0m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Charleston over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
06
Sunday
07
Monday
08
Tuesday
09
Wednesday
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
1
0
3
4
4
3
3
2
1
0
3
3
0
2
2
1
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.9
W
2.2
W
2
W
2
W
2.1
W
3
WNW
2.4
WNW
1.7
WSW
1.6
WSW
1.5
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.8
WSW
1.9
WSW
1.8
WSW
2
WSW
2.3
WSW
2.2
WSW
2.1
WSW
2
WSW
2.1
WSW
2.2
WSW
Period(s) (?)111312121112111212121213131214141313131011
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)80416821213113211042314143380768359945911061121887154820191725151113388111242
Wind
(km/h)
10
NNW
10
N
15
NNE
20
N
25
N
10
SSW
5
WNW
0
ESE
5
NNW
5
N
5
SW
10
WSW
15
WSW
10
S
5
WNW
25
SW
20
SW
20
SW
20
SW
5
SSW
5
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on
crosscrosscrosscrosscrossglassglassglassglassglasscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
off
oncross-
on
crosscrosscross-
on
crosson
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:41AM
2.99
1:03PM
3.05
1:33AM
2.89
1:54PM
2.97
2:25AM
2.76
2:47PM
2.83
3:19AM
2.60
3:42PM
2.68
4:15AM
2.46
4:39PM
2.53
5:14AM
2.34
5:38PM
2.40
6:15AM
2.28
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:51AM
0.08
7:21PM
0.01
7:42AM
0.16
8:14PM
0.12
8:34AM
0.28
9:07PM
0.25
9:27AM
0.42
10:03PM
0.40
10:23AM
0.55
11:00PM
0.53
11:22AM
0.66
11:58PM
0.63
12:22PM
0.74
Sat
06
Sunday
07
Monday
08
Tuesday
09
Wednesday
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
Sunrise--5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52
Sunset8:57--8:58--8:59--9:00--9:00--9:00--9:01--
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
21--16----------31---
Temp. °C171718181716161517171717171516151315151316
Feels °C (?)17181616141616151718191514131510811111013
  • 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 Charleston Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Charleston provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Charleston can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Charleston 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 (Charleston) 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 Charleston 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.

Charleston is 167 km (104 miles) from the city of Nelson. If you plan a holiday in West Coast South Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Nelson. Nelson has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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