Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, W swell with 2,791 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cobden Breakwater this week:
The surf forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 3AM. 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 11s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got one spot on the menu for the next 16 days: Cobden Breakwater. This is a breakwater setup that picks up west-southwest groundswell like a charm – the optimum direction is WSW and that’s exactly what we’re seeing. The water’s sitting at 55°F, pretty much average for this time of year, anomaly only 0.4°F. Overall pattern: a solid, long-period west swell rolls in Wednesday afternoon (15 July) and hangs around for a week, then another burst of energy arrives late in the second week. The combined wave energy is strong, often in the thousands (3568 to start), so there’s plenty of push.
Let’s run through it. Wednesday the 15th afternoon: 10ft west swell at 15 seconds, cross-off north wind at 9 mph – it’s clean but that size is only for the experienced crew. Thursday the 16th is a right-off with onshore wind and rain, stay out. Friday the 17th is where it gets tasty. Morning has 7.2ft west swell with a light cross-off from the southeast (3 mph), clean. Then Friday afternoon? Glassy. Flat calm westerly wind, 7.2ft west swell, 15 seconds – pure waves. That’s a standout session right there. Saturday the 18th morning is glassy again with
Short Range ForecastModerate 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 SummarySome 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 | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 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) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:54 |
 | 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 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 14 | — | — | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | W 11 |
| kJ | 3568 | 2803 | — | — | 2005 | 2119 | 2147 | 1739 | 1421 | 2187 | 2323 | 1960 | 1392 | 1033 | 743 | 617 | 431 | 319 | 244 | 183 | 163 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | N 10 | N 10 | NNW 11 | N 11 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 22 | 35 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 50 | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 19 | W 18 | W 17 | N 10 | N 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 27 | 24 | 8 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 15 | W 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2407 | 2228 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 169 | 169 | 153 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cobden Breakwater Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cobden Breakwater provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cobden Breakwater can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cobden Breakwater 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 Breakwater) 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 Breakwater 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 Breakwater is 172 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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