Surf Forecasts:
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 Type | Time (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 Powerful | 12AM (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 ForecastModerate 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 SummaryHeavy 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 17 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 7 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4945 | 4140 | 3213 | 2338 | 1252 | 320 | 1015 | 1347 | 1556 | 811 | 521 | 1094 | 931 | 506 | 164 | 623 | 1666 | 1021 | 778 | 385 | 194 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | |
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) | WSW 17 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 7 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
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) | WSW 17 | — | — | — | — | W 22 | W 21 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | N 12 | N 11 | WSW 21 | WSW 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 7 |
1596 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 35 | 281 | 283 | 341 | 521 | 11 | 2 | 45 | 75 | 137 | 204 | 322 | 387 | 272 | 73 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 22 | SW 16 | WSW 19 | N 13 | N 13 | WSW 11 | N 12 | W 24 | WNW 7 | N 10 | — | — | — | WSW 11 | WSW 6 | WSW 14 |
— | — | — | — | — | 9 | 10 | 124 | 14 | 13 | 346 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | 12 | 40 | 180 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 320 | — | — | — | 286 | — | — | — | — | 119 | 623 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
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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.











