Charleston Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.90° S 171.44° E

Issued: 5 pm 27 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Charleston sea temperature is
14.3° 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 27 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 4 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, NW swell with 3,513 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 27 Jun, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s 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 Saturday (Jun 27) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 14s. 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 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 04) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 04) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Sat 27th Jun)5ft (1.5m) 10s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 4th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sat 4th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
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
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
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)
1.7
WSW
13
1
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
13
0.7
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.7
W
12
0.6
W
12
1
W
10
2.4
NW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
894
455
1356
1319
1106
824
812
733
659
563
421
390
307
172
147
154
231
137
98
196
1267
Wind (km/h)
5
W
10
ENE
5
E
5
WSW
10
E
5
ESE
5
W
10
ENE
10
NE
15
NE
10
NE
5
E
5
SW
5
SE
5
ESE
5
WSW
5
E
5
E
5
NE
15
NE
30
NNE
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
off
glassy
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
off
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
9:06PM2.44m
9:28AM2.43m
9:48PM2.51m
10:10AM2.49m
10:28PM2.58m
10:50AM2.54m
11:08PM2.63m
11:29AM2.57m
11:46PM2.66m
12:07PM2.57m
00:23AM2.67m
12:44PM2.56m
1:00AM2.65m
Low Tide
3:19AM0.62m
3:37PM0.61m
4:02AM0.55m
4:19PM0.55m
4:43AM0.49m
4:58PM0.50m
5:22AM0.44m
5:37PM0.46m
6:00AM0.41m
6:14PM0.44m
6:38AM0.40m
6:51PM0.45m
7:16AM0.40m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:03
8:02
8:02
8:02
8:02
8:02
8:02
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:10
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:14
 mm
1
1
2
Temp °C
13
11
13
13
11
13
13
11
11
12
11
13
13
11
12
12
10
13
13
13
13
Feels °C
12
9
12
12
9
11
11
9
9
10
9
12
11
8
11
10
8
11
11
9
7
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
10
1.8
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
13
0.7
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.7
W
12
0.6
W
12
1
W
10
0.2
WSW
13
Energy kJ
894
396
1356
1319
1106
824
812
733
659
563
421
390
307
172
147
154
231
137
98
196
16
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WSW
14
1
WSW
15
0.9
WSW
15
0.9
WSW
14
0.2
WSW
18
0.2
N
4
0.4
NW
4
0.2
WSW
18
0.5
NW
4
0.4
NW
4
0.4
WSW
12
0.1
W
16
0.1
N
11
0.4
NW
6
0.4
SW
13
Energy kJ
77
455
314
371
32
1
4
31
8
4
50
5
2
9
43
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
18
0.2
W
18
0.2
WSW
17
0.1
W
13
0.1
SW
16
0.2
WSW
15
0.1
W
18
Energy kJ
7
24
28
3
11
22
6
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NNE
3
2.4
NW
10
Energy kJ
3
1267
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
5
6
5
4
4
4
6
5
5
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
6
9
8
5
6
6
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
6
7
5
5
7
  • 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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