Cobden Beach - The Channel Surf Break

Lat Long: 42.44° S 171.20° E

Cobden Beach - The Channel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Beach - The Channel sea temperature is
12.8° C
0.2° 

Cobden Beach - The Channel surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cobden Beach - The Channel surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, W swell with 2,803 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period with W swell.

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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Beach - The Channel in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Thu 16th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 14s
Best Surf12AM (Thu 16th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 14s
Most Powerful12AM (Thu 16th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been through this forecast for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a tough one. The swell is gonna be pumping, but most of the time it’s just too damn big for this spot. Cobden Beach – The Channel is a beginner-friendly break, but when the swell hits over 8 feet, it’s strictly for experts, and even then, it’s a beast. The first real opportunity doesn’t come until the morning of Saturday, July 18th.

The water is sitting at 55°F with a normal temperature for this time of year, so nothing unusual, just your standard winter chill.

The standout window is the morning of Saturday, July 18th. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the WSW, with a long 15-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is glassy, dead calm, so the surface will be like a mirror. The combined energy is high (1421), so there’s plenty of push. This is the best on offer: clean, powerful, and a bit of a challenge. Because the swell is 6ft, it’s right on the edge for beginners, so it’s more for the experienced crew.

Sunday morning, July 19th, is also worth a look. The swell is a touch bigger at 7ft from the W, still with a long 16-second period, and the wind is light and offshore from the E, keeping it clean. The energy is even higher (1962). But again, it’s getting into the bigger range, so be ready.

After that, the swell drops right off. From Monday, July 20th, through to Thursday, July 23rd, it’s small – around 3ft to 5ft – with weaker energy in the 200-400 range. The wind is often glassy or clean, so it’ll be pretty, but not much to get excited about. Friday, July 24th, stays small and clean.

Then, on Saturday, July 25th, it gets ugly. Rain showers and a strong 12 mph cross-onshore wind from the N make for a messy, choppy day. That’s a write-off.

Things turn back on Sunday, July 26th, but it’s back to the big stuff again. The morning has a 8ft swell from the WSW with a 15-second period and clean offshore winds from the S, and the energy is massive (3043). The afternoon is similar, with glassy conditions. This is another expert-only window. It’s gonna be powerful and borderline intimidating.

Monday, July 27th, morning is a good option for experienced surfers – 5ft from the W, 16-second period, clean offshore winds, and a solid energy level (1265). Then it drops off again.

The pattern repeats into the end of the month. Tuesday, July 28th, and Wednesday, July 29th, see more big swell (7ft to 10ft) and strong energy, often with cross-onshore winds, making it a bit of a scrap. The morning of the 29th is a standout for the big-wave crew – 10ft from the WSW, offshore wind, and a massive 4240 energy – but it’s a serious session.

In short, the best bets are the mornings of July 18th and 19th and the morning of July 27th for the experienced crew. The big stuff on the 26th, 28th, and 29th is for experts only. The rest is either too small, too big, or too windy. Stick to the glassy windows and pick your days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
4
4
3
!
4
3
4
3
2
2
2
1
2
2
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)
3
W
15
2.5
W
14
2.4
W
15
2.3
W
15
2.2
W
14
2.2
W
15
2.2
W
15
2
W
15
1.8
WSW
15
1.9
WSW
17
2.1
W
16
2
W
16
1.8
W
15
1.6
W
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
13
1
W
12
0.9
WSW
12
0.8
WSW
12
0.8
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3568
2803
2407
2228
2005
2119
2147
1739
1421
2187
2323
1960
1392
1033
743
617
431
319
244
183
163
Wind (km/h)
15
N
15
WNW
15
WSW
20
SW
5
S
5
SE
0
WSW
5
SE
5
SSW
5
WSW
5
E
5
E
10
NNE
5
ENE
10
ENE
5
N
5
ENE
5
E
5
WNW
5
SE
5
ESE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
off
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
11:37PM3.54m
12:06PM3.44m
00:25AM3.54m
12:53PM3.38m
1:12AM3.45m
1:39PM3.26m
1:58AM3.31m
2:24PM3.11m
2:46AM3.13m
3:10PM2.95m
3:36AM2.95m
4:01PM2.81m
4:32AM2.80m
Low Tide
5:26PM0.57m
5:51AM0.46m
6:14PM0.56m
6:40AM0.50m
7:00PM0.61m
7:28AM0.60m
7:45PM0.72m
8:15AM0.75m
8:31PM0.88m
9:02AM0.94m
9:20PM1.06m
9:50AM1.12m
10:13PM1.23m
10:43AM1.29m
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
8:00
7:58
7:58
7:58
7:56
7:56
7:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
 mm
4
10
2
1
1
Temp °C
14
14
12
12
10
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
12
11
12
13
11
12
12
10
9
Feels °C
11
11
9
7
7
9
9
9
9
9
10
9
10
9
10
11
9
11
10
9
7
  • 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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