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 pm Thursday 07 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
15.3° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

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 Friday (May 08) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 09) at 12PM. 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 Monday (May 11) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Fri 8th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Best Surf 6AM (Fri 8th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Most Powerful12PM (Sat 9th May)18ft (5.5m) 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 88mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the WSW by Sat morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thu
14
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
!
!
!
3
3
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
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>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
NNW
9
1.9
NNW
9
3.5
N
9
4
NNW
11
6
WNW
11
5
W
12
2.5
W
10
2.5
W
9
4
W
9
4
W
12
2.5
W
13
2.1
W
13
1.6
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.3
WSW
9
1.2
WSW
9
1
WSW
9
0.4
WSW
20
0.9
WSW
13
1
WSW
16
1
WSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1109
541
2065
3969
7547
6847
1316
1017
2587
4619
2235
1468
431
325
276
222
162
129
307
547
520
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
10
N
35
NNE
40
N
40
NW
30
WSW
20
W
25
WSW
35
WSW
0
W
15
ESE
5
W
10
ESE
10
ESE
5
WSW
10
E
10
ESE
5
SW
10
E
10
ESE
5
WSW
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
2:27AM2.73m
3:05PM2.63m
3:26AM2.64m
4:07PM2.57m
4:32AM2.61m
5:12PM2.57m
5:38AM2.65m
6:14PM2.64m
6:37AM2.76m
7:10PM2.77m
7:30AM2.92m
8:01PM2.94m
8:18AM3.10m
Low Tide
8:48AM1.23m
9:13PM1.26m
9:51AM1.25m
10:17PM1.27m
10:57AM1.21m
11:23PM1.23m
11:59AM1.11m
00:25AM1.12m
12:55PM0.96m
1:20AM0.98m
1:46PM0.80m
2:09AM0.82m
2:33PM0.66m
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:31
7:33
7:33
7:35
7:35
7:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:29
5:27
5:25
5:24
5:23
19
20
16
11
12
2
4
2
2
1
Temp °C
16
16
17
15
14
13
13
13
12
11
10
12
8
10
11
9
12
13
11
13
14
13
16
12
9
7
7
10
7
5
4
7
10
6
8
9
7
10
11
9
12
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
NNW
9
1.9
NNW
9
0.6
WSW
12
0.6
WSW
12
2.4
NNW
11
1.6
NW
10
1.5
W
14
0.1
N
11
4
W
12
2.5
W
13
2.1
W
13
1.6
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.3
WSW
9
1.2
WSW
9
1
WSW
9
0.9
WSW
8
0.9
WSW
13
1
WSW
16
1
WSW
16
Energy kJ
1109
541
123
104
1413
480
855
2
4619
2235
1468
431
325
276
222
162
112
307
547
520
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WSW
14
0.4
WSW
14
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
WSW
17
1
W
15
0.8
NNW
10
1
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
12
0.6
WSW
14
0.6
WSW
13
0.5
WSW
13
0.5
WSW
18
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
10
Energy kJ
81
76
27
101
447
120
367
212
198
147
137
99
178
2
2
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
WNW
11
0.4
WNW
10
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
12
0.1
N
12
0.1
W
26
0.4
WSW
22
0.4
WSW
20
0.1
N
11
Energy kJ
24
31
3
3
3
13
154
129
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
N
9
4
NNW
11
6
WNW
11
5
W
12
2.5
W
10
2.5
W
9
4
W
9
0.4
ESE
3
Energy kJ
2065
3969
7547
6847
1316
1017
2587
3
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
2
2
1
1
2
4
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
3
2
Distance (km)
153
0
168
210
169
153
153
153
210
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
63
0
0
48
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
5
4
4
7
4
4
8
9
9
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
7
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
6
4
6
7
6
7
8
9
9
5
  • 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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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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