Charleston Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.90° S 171.44° E

Issued: 5 pm 15 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Charleston sea temperature is
14.7° C

Slightly warmer than usual

Charleston surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Charleston surf forecast from 15 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 20 Jun, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 16 Jun, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 4,140 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 16 Jun, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period with WSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Charleston this week:

The surf forecast for Charleston over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jun 16) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Charleston in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jun 16) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 13s period and expected on Thursday (Jun 18) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 16th Jun)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 20th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful12AM (Tue 16th Jun)10ft (3.0m) 15s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Sat afternoon).

Mon
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
3
5
4
3
2
0
1
4
3
2
3
3
3
2
0
0
2
4
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
WSW
17
3
WSW
15
3
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
13
2.1
WSW
12
1.8
W
7
2.5
WSW
9
2.4
WSW
11
2.3
WSW
12
1.7
WSW
12
1.1
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
12
2.4
NW
7
3
WNW
10
2.4
WNW
10
2.1
WNW
9
1.5
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4945
4140
3213
2338
1252
320
1015
1347
1556
811
521
1094
931
506
164
623
1666
1021
778
385
194
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
5
S
10
E
5
WSW
15
SW
25
SSW
20
SW
5
WSW
5
SSW
20
SSW
10
SSE
5
ENE
0
N
15
NE
30
NNW
30
NW
15
WNW
5
SW
10
WSW
15
SSW
5
SSE
Wind State
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
High Tide
10:48PM3.04m
11:18AM2.98m
11:40PM3.07m
12:11PM2.94m
00:32AM3.05m
1:03PM2.86m
1:25AM2.97m
1:56PM2.74m
2:18AM2.84m
2:50PM2.61m
3:13AM2.69m
3:45PM2.49m
4:09AM2.55m
Low Tide
4:35PM0.09m
5:05AM-0.02m
5:28PM0.07m
5:58AM-0.03m
6:20PM0.10m
6:51AM0.02m
7:12PM0.16m
7:45AM0.11m
8:04PM0.26m
8:38AM0.23m
8:58PM0.38m
9:32AM0.37m
9:53PM0.51m
10:28AM0.50m
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:00
8:00
8:00
8:00
8:00
8:02
8:02
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:08
5:08
5:08
5:08
5:08
5:08
5:08
 mm
2
2
6
1
2
6
16
2
Temp °C
12
12
12
12
12
13
12
10
12
11
10
11
11
13
15
15
14
15
14
13
12
Feels °C
8
9
11
10
7
8
7
8
9
6
7
10
10
11
11
11
13
13
12
11
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
WSW
17
3
WSW
15
3
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
13
2.1
WSW
12
1
WSW
12
2.5
WSW
9
2.4
WSW
11
2.3
WSW
12
1.7
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
7
1.8
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
12
0.5
WSW
12
3
WNW
10
2.4
WNW
10
2.1
WNW
9
1.5
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
9
Energy kJ
4945
4140
3213
2338
1252
265
1015
1347
1556
811
193
1094
931
506
164
79
1666
1021
778
385
194
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
WSW
17
0.1
W
22
0.2
W
21
0.9
WSW
14
0.7
WSW
16
0.8
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
14
0.2
N
12
0.1
N
11
0.2
WSW
21
0.3
WSW
20
0.4
WSW
19
0.6
WSW
18
0.8
WSW
16
0.9
WSW
16
0.8
WSW
15
0.9
WSW
7
Energy kJ
1596
9
35
281
283
341
521
11
2
45
75
137
204
322
387
272
73
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
22
0.1
SW
16
0.4
WSW
19
0.2
N
13
0.2
N
13
1.2
WSW
11
0.1
N
12
0.1
W
24
0.2
WNW
7
0.1
N
10
0.2
WSW
11
0.8
WSW
6
0.7
WSW
14
Energy kJ
9
10
124
14
13
346
3
11
5
2
12
40
180
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
W
7
1.7
WSW
7
1.3
WNW
6
2.4
NW
7
Energy kJ
320
286
119
623
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
5
4
4
3
2
1
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
4
4
3
3
2
Distance (km)
208
0
0
23
15
184
180
0
15
56
0
0
0
0
166
184
76
0
23
23
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
4
4
3
3
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
5
5
4
4
2
5
5
4
9
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
6
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
9
6
7
5
4
7
4
7
4
9
6
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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 16 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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