Cobden Beach - The Channel surf break

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

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Friday 01 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 Saturday (May 02) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Beach - The Channel in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 07) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (May 06) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sat 2nd May)4ft (1.2m) 13s
Best Surf 9PM (Wed 6th May)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Most Powerful12AM (Thu 7th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s

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

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
0
2
!
3
2
2
3
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
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<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)
1.3
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
1
WSW
13
1
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
13
0.6
WSW
14
0.5
WSW
14
0.4
WSW
13
0.8
NNW
6
1.4
NNW
7
3
NW
10
1.9
NNW
8
1.6
NNW
8
1.7
NNW
7
1.8
NNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
599
523
478
536
443
384
372
294
231
208
165
163
104
58
44
186
1572
512
300
314
412
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
5
ESE
10
ESE
10
SW
5
ESE
10
ESE
5
WSW
5
ESE
10
ESE
10
SW
5
ESE
10
ESE
5
W
10
E
20
E
10
ENE
20
NNE
10
E
5
NE
5
ENE
5
ENE
cross
off
off
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
10:40PM3.18m
10:57AM3.17m
11:13PM3.17m
11:31AM3.13m
11:45PM3.13m
12:07PM3.06m
00:20AM3.06m
12:44PM2.96m
00:57AM2.96m
1:24PM2.85m
1:38AM2.84m
2:11PM2.74m
2:27AM2.73m
Low Tide
4:32PM0.83m
4:49AM0.83m
5:06PM0.85m
5:23AM0.86m
5:41PM0.90m
5:57AM0.91m
6:16PM0.97m
6:31AM0.99m
6:52PM1.05m
7:10AM1.07m
7:33PM1.13m
7:54AM1.16m
8:19PM1.21m
8:48AM1.23m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:26
7:26
7:28
7:28
7:30
7:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:39
5:37
5:37
5:36
5:34
5:32
5:31
5:30
2
20
1
3
Temp °C
14
12
11
11
9
12
13
10
11
12
10
10
11
9
14
16
15
16
17
16
18
12
11
10
9
7
11
11
9
10
10
9
9
10
7
10
14
13
16
17
16
19
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
1
WSW
13
1
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.8
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
13
0.6
WSW
14
0.5
WSW
14
0.4
WSW
13
0.8
NNW
6
1.4
NNW
7
3
NW
10
1.9
NNW
8
1.6
NNW
8
0.4
WSW
14
1.8
NNW
8
Energy kJ
599
523
478
536
443
384
372
294
231
208
165
163
104
58
44
186
1572
512
300
79
412
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
N
4
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.2
N
15
0.1
N
15
0.2
N
14
0.2
N
14
0.2
N
14
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
12
0.2
N
7
0.2
WSW
12
0.2
WSW
13
0.4
WSW
15
0.5
WSW
14
0.5
WSW
14
0.4
WSW
14
Energy kJ
4
3
2
2
17
4
16
15
15
3
3
3
3
4
15
16
79
118
115
80
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
16
0.1
N
10
0.1
N
10
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
12
0.2
WSW
15
0.2
WSW
16
0.2
W
18
Energy kJ
3
2
3
5
2
2
1
1
3
22
25
25
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
6
0.4
ESE
3
0.3
E
3
1.7
NNW
7
Energy kJ
2
3
1
314
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
2
2
3
Distance (km)
48
0
0
190
0
0
48
0
0
48
0
0
0
0
7
0
136
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
9
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
9
5
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
6
9
8
6
  • 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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