Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, W swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 14s period, W swell with 13,311 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 6.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Same 16-day window, just in feet, degrees Fahrenheit, and miles per hour.
The first few days are a right-off. Don’t bother getting your gear wet yet.
Saturday (22 August) and Sunday (23 August) are poor. Saturday has a 3ft swell with cross-off and then cross winds, only marginal. Sunday is a full-blown storm. 20ft in the morning, 18ft in the afternoon, with a 28 mph onshore wind. Combined swell energy is massive – (7734) and (9373) – but it’s un-surfable with that wind.
Monday (24 August) is still too big for this spot. 13ft in the morning, 12ft in the afternoon. Onshore and cross-onshore wind. The swell is long-period (14 to 15 seconds), but the size pushes it into expert-only, and the wind messes it up.
Tuesday (25 August) has poor conditions with fresh winds. 5ft in the morning but cross-onshore. Afternoon bumps to 12ft, but lumpy.
Now for the good part. Wednesday morning (26 August) is the first real standout. At Cobden Breakwater, we get a 8ft west swell, 14-second period, and glassy conditions with a 3 mph easterly breeze. Clean, long-period groundswell. Combined energy is (1933). The water temp is about average for the time of year. This is for experienced surfers – 8ft is solid.
Thursday (27 August) afternoon is a decent backup. Swell drops to 4ft from the west, 12 seconds, with a clean cross-off wind from the NNE at 6 mph. Energy (622) is weak, but it’s clean and easier paddling.
Friday (28 August) morning is tiny – 3ft from the WSW, 13 seconds, clean cross-off. Energy (282) is weak.
Next standout is Tuesday morning (1 September). A 8ft west swell, 16-second period, and glassy with 3 mph WSW wind. Combined energy (3218) is moderate to strong. That very long period groundswell will mean longer waits, but the shape will be excellent. This is for experienced surfers – 8ft is pushing it.
Thursday morning (3 September) looks clean with 6ft from the west, 14 seconds, and light cross-off wind. Energy (1504) is moderate.
Friday morning (4 September) is another big one. A 10ft west swell, 14 seconds, with offshore wind from the ENE at 6 mph. Clean and lined up. Combined energy (3289) is strong. This is expert territory.
The last mention is Sunday morning (6 September) – 7ft west swell, 14 seconds, clean cross-off with light easterly breeze. Energy (2081). Solid and clean for experienced surfers.
Bottom line: the first week is mostly a bust, but the second half has some absolute gems. The best are Wednesday 26 August morning for the glass, and Tuesday 1 September morning for that long, clean groundswell. Friday 4 September morning with offshore wind is also a belter, but it’s big. These long-range standouts look promising, but don’t book your flight just yet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun morning, light winds from the SSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 93mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Tue morning, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 12 | W 14 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 8 | W 8 | W 13 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 242 | 524 | 1606 | 6465 | 9228 | 12932 | 6270 | 4284 | 2616 | 745 | 1169 | 2567 | 1733 | 1266 | 747 | 318 | 203 | 547 | 466 | 545 | 2629 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:28PM2.55m | 7:04AM2.59m | 7:37PM2.64m | 8:04AM2.69m | 8:33PM2.78m | 8:55AM2.83m | 9:17PM2.94m | 9:38AM2.97m | 9:55PM3.09m | 10:15AM3.09m | 10:29PM3.22m | 10:50AM3.20m | 11:02PM3.31m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:08PM1.50m | 00:50AM1.47m | 1:23PM1.46m | 1:55AM1.39m | 2:23PM1.34m | 2:47AM1.26m | 3:10PM1.19m | 3:29AM1.11m | 3:49PM1.04m | 4:06AM0.95m | 4:24PM0.89m | 4:40AM0.81m | 4:56PM0.78m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — |
 | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | — | 5 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | 40 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | W 13 |
| kJ | 242 | 524 | 87 | — | — | — | 6270 | 4284 | 2616 | 714 | 407 | 2567 | 1733 | 1266 | 747 | 318 | 203 | 547 | 466 | 545 | 119 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | WSW 13 | W 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | W 16 | WSW 12 | W 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 23 |
| kJ | 89 | 59 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 135 | 155 | 203 | 236 | 178 | 170 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 20 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | WSW 12 | W 24 | W 24 | — |
| kJ | 30 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 183 | 29 | 12 | 45 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 12 | W 14 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | NW 10 |
| kJ | 12 | 44 | 1606 | 6465 | 9228 | 12932 | — | — | — | 745 | 1169 | — | — | — | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | 2629 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 86 | 190 | 190 | 213 | 210 | 153 | 153 | 153 | 156 | 190 | 197 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 122 | 86 | 0 | 156 | 190 |
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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