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Surf Forecasts:

Charleston surf break

Charleston surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Friday 20 Mar 2026 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
16.6° 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 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Mar 20) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. 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 4.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Mar 27) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.5m 13s period and expected on Friday (Mar 27) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Fri 20th Mar)4ft (1.2m) 11s
Best Surf 4PM (Thu 26th Mar)11ft (3.5m) 14s
Most Powerful 1AM (Fri 27th Mar)15ft (4.5m) 13s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
16 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
Thu
26
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
2
2
3
1
0
2
2
2
3
2
0
1
2
2
3
3
!
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.3
WSW
1.2
WSW
1.1
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.4
WSW
1.4
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.2
WSW
1.1
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.4
WSW
1.2
WSW
1
WSW
0.9
WSW
1
WSW
1.6
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.3
WSW
3.5
NNW
Period(s) (?)111111131213141314131413141313121216141314
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)3723342815785256597546155614021114606777476312230280116910835774425
Wind
(km/h)
10
S
10
SW
10
WSW
5
SW
0
W
10
WSW
5
SSE
5
SSW
20
SW
5
SSE
5
NNE
5
W
5
SSE
0
SSE
10
SW
5
SE
5
NE
5
SW
5
SE
10
E
15
ENE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		crosscross-
on		glassglasscross-
on		glasscrosscrosscross-
off		crosscross-
on		cross-
off		glasscross-
on		glassglasscross-
on		offcross-
off		cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
12:07AM
2.97
12:23PM
3.10
12:46AM
3.02
1:04PM
3.09
1:26AM
3.00
1:46PM
3.01
2:09AM
2.91
2:33PM
2.86
2:57AM
2.77
3:26PM
2.66
3:52AM
2.59
4:29PM
2.46
5:01AM
2.44
5:47PM
2.31
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:14AM
0.01
6:37PM
-0.08
6:54AM
-0.02
7:17PM
-0.05
7:36AM
0.02
8:00PM
0.07
8:22AM
0.13
8:47PM
0.24
9:13AM
0.29
9:40PM
0.44
10:13AM
0.48
10:44PM
0.63
11:26AM
0.62
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
Thu
26
Sunrise-7:35--7:35--7:37--7:39--7:39--7:41--7:41-
Sunset--7:46--7:45--7:44--7:42--7:39--7:38--7:37
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
Rain (mm)
--------------------3
Temp. °C161716151717151717141717151717151918161714
Feels °C (?)161615151716141414121716141615151716151512
  • 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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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Charleston surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Charleston at:
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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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