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 11 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cobden Beach - The Channel sea temperature is
12.3°C
0.1° 

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 11 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 7,660 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period with WSW 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Beach - The Channel in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sat 12th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 12th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sat 12th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, cobber, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the ocean’s got cookin’ for Cobden Beach.

The short version: the next couple of days are a washout for us – way too much water moving around. But hold tight, because towards the end of the week and into the weekend, conditions clean right up and The Channel could be a gem. There’s a serious stretch of solid, clean swell coming in the second week, but that’s a promise from afar, so we’ll take it with a grain of salt.

Right now, the ocean is in a foul mood. Friday afternoon has a solid 8ft of west swell, and even though the wind is glass, that’s just too much juice for The Channel. The energy readings are off the charts – that’s a 4014 reading – suggesting a powerful, unruly ocean. We’ll give it a miss.

Saturday stays big and messy. Morning sees 13ft of west swell, and the wind is chopping it up. The energy is still huge. It stays heavy in the afternoon with 12ft and a moderate cross-shore breeze. It’s a washing machine out there. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.

Sunday morning is where things start to turn. The swell drops to a manageable 5ft, the wind goes glassy from the southeast, and the water cleans right up. There’s still a lot of energy in the water – a 2318 reading – but this is the first real window for experienced surfers. The Channel can handle this, so if you’ve got the skill, this is your morning. The afternoon gets a bit iffy with a cross-onshore breeze, so make the most of the morning.

Monday morning is similar: 5ft of west-southwest swell, glassy conditions, clean faces. Another good one for those who know what they’re doing. By Tuesday, we’re down to 4ft, still glassy, and while the energy has dropped, it’s still a fun, playful size. Good chance for a longer board and a long paddle.

We get a wobbly day on Wednesday with onshore winds and lumpy conditions. Then Thursday sees the swell jump back up again, but it’s overshadowed by the coming weekend.

Now, for the standout. Sunday the 20th of September. The forecast shows a clean 13ft of west swell with light offshore winds from the east-southeast. The energy reading is massive – 5234 – and the description calls it clean for Cobden Beach – The Channel. This is the one we’ve been waiting for. That’s a proper groundswell with a long period, and it’s going to be cranking. This is a big day, for experts only. It’s a lot of water moving, so you need to know what you’re doing.

The week after that has some more potential. The 24th of September, Thursday, also looks strong with an 12ft west swell and cross-offshore winds, another big, clean day. The energy is right up there again. These are the sessions you plan your week around.

Right, water temp is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so a good 4/3 will do you fine.

For the longer range, the models are showing more swell for the 23rd and 24th, but it’s over a week out, so treat it as promising, not a certainty. The 25th and 26th of September look like they could be smaller and cleaner again, in that fun 5ft range.

So, don’t go getting skunked on the big, wild days. Wait for that Sunday the 20th, and if you’re keen, the Monday after that. That’s the pick of the bunch.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
!
!
4
4
2
4
4
2
3
3
2
1
0
!
!
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
W
17
4
WSW
16
4
W
11
3.5
W
16
1.9
WSW
16
1.6
W
16
1.5
W
16
1.4
WSW
16
1.5
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.5
W
14
1.2
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
1
W
9
1.6
W
9
3
WNW
10
2.2
WNW
9
1.5
W
13
1.5
W
14
1.9
W
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4014
7103
3524
6251
1940
1347
1145
966
886
1382
951
605
395
170
408
2129
796
799
874
1721
Wind (km/h)
5
W
20
SW
15
WSW
20
WSW
15
WSW
5
SE
15
WSW
5
WSW
5
WSW
15
WSW
5
ESE
5
E
5
NW
10
WNW
20
N
15
W
15
SW
20
SW
20
WSW
25
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross
cross
cross
cross
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
off
glassy
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
10:56PM3.42m
11:18AM3.31m
11:35PM3.38m
11:55AM3.27m
00:12AM3.28m
12:30PM3.18m
00:49AM3.14m
1:06PM3.06m
1:27AM2.98m
1:42PM2.91m
2:08AM2.81m
2:24PM2.76m
2:58AM2.65m
Low Tide
4:46PM0.49m
5:08AM0.43m
5:25PM0.47m
5:47AM0.47m
6:03PM0.53m
6:24AM0.57m
6:39PM0.64m
7:00AM0.71m
7:16PM0.80m
7:37AM0.89m
7:55PM0.97m
8:18AM1.07m
8:40PM1.16m
cloud
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light rain
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cloud
cloud
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mod rain
heavy rain
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:35
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:19
6:20
6:21
6:22
6:22
6:23
6:25
 mm
2
3
1
2
1
3
8
16
1
1
1
3
Temp °C
9
9
10
10
9
11
12
12
12
13
10
12
12
12
12
11
10
11
10
10
Feels °C
7
5
5
5
5
10
8
10
10
10
9
11
11
10
9
8
7
5
4
4
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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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