Charleston surf break

Charleston surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Monday 14 Jul 2025 NZST
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
13.5° C
(Which is 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 Monday (Jul 14) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Charleston in the next 12 days are 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 16) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 19) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Mon 14th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Best Surf12PM (Mon 14th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful12AM (Wed 16th Jul)18ft (5.5m) 12s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
Wednesday
23
Thursday
24
Friday
25
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
3.5
W
3.5
W
2.3
W
1.8
W
1.3
WSW
5.5
W
4
W
3
W
2.5
WSW
1.8
WSW
1.5
W
0.7
WSW
1.9
WSW
3
WSW
2.4
WSW
1.6
WSW
2.5
W
1.7
WSW
2.1
WSW
2.4
WSW
2.1
WSW
1.7
WSW
2.3
WSW
2.5
WSW
2.2
WSW
2
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.8
WSW
1.8
WSW
1.8
W
1.6
W
1.7
WNW
4.5
NW
4.5
NW
3.5
NNW
1.7
WNW
Period(s) (?)141311131412121313121222181716151215161515151514141314171614131213121112
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)47704497180514488039418458233041970992700863299258533016180334823097272826271983159823202724178113591090199516851335140813506074593633921498
Wind
(km/h)
15
NE
15
WNW
5
NE
15
E
5
WSW
30
SW
20
SW
10
SW
10
SE
5
ESE
5
NNW
20
WSW
5
SSE
5
WSW
5
SSW
10
E
10
SSE
10
E
5
ESE
10
SW
10
SSE
5
SSE
15
SSW
5
SE
5
E
5
WSW
5
SE
5
SSE
10
SW
5
ESE
10
ENE
20
NNE
20
ENE
20
NE
15
N
20
NE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
oncross-
off
cross-
off
glasscross-
on
cross-
on
crossoffglassglasscross-
on
glasscross-
on
glasscross-
off
cross-
off
offoffcrosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
offglasscross-
on
glasscross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:58PM
2.70
1:15AM
2.83
1:41PM
2.68
1:59AM
2.79
2:27PM
2.63
2:47AM
2.72
3:18PM
2.57
3:41AM
2.63
4:15PM
2.51
4:42AM
2.54
5:19PM
2.47
5:51AM
2.49
6:28PM
2.48
7:03AM
2.50
7:36PM
2.55
8:11AM
2.57
8:39PM
2.66
9:11AM
2.66
9:35PM
2.78
10:05AM
2.74
10:26PM
2.88
10:53AM
2.80
11:12PM
2.94
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:05PM
0.28
7:33AM
0.20
7:49PM
0.31
8:18AM
0.24
8:36PM
0.36
9:07AM
0.31
9:28PM
0.43
10:01AM
0.40
10:27PM
0.50
11:02AM
0.49
11:33PM
0.55
12:09PM
0.54
12:43AM
0.54
1:17PM
0.53
1:52AM
0.46
2:22PM
0.47
2:55AM
0.36
3:20PM
0.37
3:51AM
0.24
4:12PM
0.28
4:42AM
0.15
5:00PM
0.21
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
Wednesday
23
Thursday
24
Friday
25
Sunrise7:58--7:58--7:56--7:56--7:56--7:54--7:54--7:54--7:52--7:52--7:50--7:50--
Sunset-5:21--5:22--5:22--5:23--5:23--5:24--5:25--5:27--5:28--5:29--5:30--5:30-
light rainrain showersrain showerscloudmod rainrain showersrain showerspart cloudclearpart cloudcloudmod rainpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudcloudlight rainpart cloudclearclearpart cloudclearclearpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudclearpart cloudclearpart cloudrain showersrain showersrain showersrain showers
Rain (mm)
543-1082----8----1---------------3529
Temp. °C1212121211111111810109101111101091111912121010111011129121212131414
Feels °C (?)9911910377588487877697698889810107877101111

Short Range Forecast: Heavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 6-9 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Long Range Forecast: Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

  • 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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