Cobden Beach - The Channel surf break

Cobden Beach - The Channel surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Tuesday 05 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Cobden Beach - The Channel surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cobden Beach - The Channel sea temperature is
15.1° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cobden Beach - The Channel this week:

The surf forecast for Cobden Beach - The Channel over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 05) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Beach - The Channel in the next 16 days are 6.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 09) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (May 06) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Tue 5th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 13s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 8th May)7.5ft (2.3m) 8s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 9th May)21ft (6.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Beach - The Channel over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 55mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the N by Thu afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 92mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Fri night, light winds from the SW by Sun night).

Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
!
2
0
0
0
0
!
!
0
!
!
!
3
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
WSW
14
0.5
WSW
14
0.4
WSW
13
0.3
WSW
15
0.4
WSW
16
0.4
WSW
15
1.3
NNW
7
2.3
NNW
8
2.3
NNW
8
1.9
NNW
8
3
NNW
9
4.5
NNW
11
6.5
NW
12
5.5
WNW
12
4
W
12
3.5
W
10
4
W
9
5
W
12
3.5
W
13
2.5
W
13
1.9
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
163
104
58
46
81
73
181
607
722
498
1499
4140
11503
9564
4251
2756
2934
7167
3743
2560
593
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
5
W
10
ENE
10
E
5
NNE
10
E
15
NE
30
N
15
NNW
15
NE
30
NNE
40
NNW
35
NNW
30
WSW
20
WSW
10
W
30
WSW
30
SW
15
ESE
5
SSW
10
E
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
off
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
12:44PM2.96m
00:57AM2.96m
1:24PM2.85m
1:38AM2.84m
2:11PM2.74m
2:27AM2.73m
3:05PM2.63m
3:26AM2.64m
4:07PM2.57m
4:32AM2.61m
5:12PM2.57m
5:38AM2.65m
6:14PM2.64m
Low Tide
6:52PM1.05m
7:10AM1.07m
7:33PM1.13m
7:54AM1.16m
8:19PM1.21m
8:48AM1.23m
9:13PM1.26m
9:51AM1.25m
10:17PM1.27m
10:57AM1.21m
11:23PM1.23m
11:59AM1.11m
00:25AM1.12m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:30
7:31
7:31
7:33
7:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:32
5:31
5:30
5:30
5:29
5:27
1
9
29
16
14
21
26
14
5
6
2
2
2
Temp °C
10
11
10
14
16
15
15
16
16
16
17
16
14
12
11
13
13
11
10
12
8
9
10
6
12
15
13
12
13
14
14
13
10
8
6
7
10
7
3
6
9
5
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
WSW
14
0.5
WSW
14
0.4
WSW
13
0.3
WSW
15
0.6
NNW
6
0.9
NNW
6
1.3
NNW
7
2.3
NNW
8
0.4
WSW
14
1.9
NNW
8
0.6
WSW
12
0.6
WSW
12
2.1
NW
12
0.1
N
11
3.5
W
13
2.5
W
13
1.9
W
9
Energy kJ
163
104
58
46
30
58
181
607
80
498
119
104
1193
2
3743
2560
593
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
13
0.1
N
12
0.2
N
7
0.3
WSW
12
0.4
WSW
16
0.4
WSW
15
0.8
WNW
9
0.4
WSW
14
0.3
WNW
11
0.4
WSW
14
0.3
WNW
9
0.3
W
16
1
W
14
Energy kJ
13
3
3
28
81
73
92
79
24
75
16
47
372
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
12
0.2
WNW
5
0.1
N
10
0.3
WNW
10
0.5
WSW
14
0.4
WNW
10
0.2
WSW
18
0.2
WSW
20
Energy kJ
1
3
2
2
20
118
31
32
37
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
E
3
2.3
NNW
8
3
NNW
9
4.5
NNW
11
6.5
NW
12
5.5
WNW
12
4
W
12
3.5
W
10
4
W
9
5
W
12
Energy kJ
1
722
1499
4140
11503
9564
4251
2756
2934
7167
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
3
3
1
3
2
2
1
1
1
2
4
4
3
Distance (km)
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
206
122
0
156
307
210
190
153
153
163
172
1
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
5
5
5
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
4
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
5
5
8
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
9
5
5
6
5
7
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
8
5
8
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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 Cobden Beach - The Channel Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Cobden Beach - The Channel provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cobden Beach - The Channel can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cobden Beach - The Channel 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 (Cobden Beach - The Channel) 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 Cobden Beach - The Channel 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.

Cobden Beach is 173 km (107 miles) from the city of Christchurch. If you plan a holiday in West Coast South Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Christchurch. Christchurch has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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