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: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, W swell with 11,692 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 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 12AM.
| 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 | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, your local surf reporter, bringing you the Cobden Breakwater outlook from right now. We're looking at a pretty wild 16 days here, with a lot of waiting and a very specific window for the experienced crew.
Right off the bat, you can forget about this weekend and the start of the week. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th are a write-off with howling onshore winds and a massive, churning swell. The wave energy is off the charts—we're talking 5323 on Sunday morning, ramping up to 8460 later that day—but the wind is just ruining everything. It’s a complete washout for surfing.
Tuesday the 25th is still a no-go. The swell is still too messy, and the wind, while dropping a bit, is still cross-onshore and lumpy. Don't even bother paddling out.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting for the brave. Wednesday the 26th morning is the one standout in this whole forecast. The wind is going *glass*—absolutely nothing—out of the north. It’s a miracle window. We've got a 7ft swell rolling in from the west with a 13-second period, giving it some real push. The combined wave energy is a solid 1708, so there's plenty of grunt. It's a breakwater setup, and with that long period, the waves are going to be clean, lined up, and proper. This is for experienced surfers only, though. The size and the power will be too much for anyone who’s not comfortable in critical situations. Thursday the 27th is a step down again, with stronger wind and a messy cross-shore chop spoiling the fun.
The pattern stays poor into the next week. Friday the 28th has some size, but the wind is light cross-onshore, and the conditions are just marginal. Saturday the 29th through Monday the 1st of September is another poor stretch with strong onshore winds and a big, unruly swell. The wave energy on Monday the 31st morning is a monstrous 13638, but it's all blowing onshore. If the wind had been clean, it would have been a world-class day, but it's not.
The second week gets even more frustrating. We get more days of huge, powerful swells that are just too big for the breakwater to handle, or the wind is wrong. Tuesday the 2nd and Wednesday the 3rd of September are again a write-off. Thursday the 4th of September morning shows another tease: a 15ft WNW swell with cross-shore winds, but again, it's just too much water moving around. The energy reading of 3913 confirms it’s a beast. Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th of September are simply colossal, with swell heights hitting 20ft and 21ft. The wave energy on the 5th morning is 17880—that’s a serious, serious ocean. That’s not a surf day; that’s a day to watch from the cliffs.
The window closes on Monday the 7th of September morning with a 8ft west swell and a 13-second period. The wind is cross-shore, and the energy is 2483. It’s marginal, but it’s the closest we get to another clean day in the whole 16-day run.
So, here's the takeaway: If you are an experienced surfer, make your plan for Wednesday the 26th of August morning at Cobden Breakwater. That glassy, clean morning is your only real shot. Everything else is either blown out, too big, or just messy. For everyone else, this is a long, blank run, but the forecasts can always change. Keep your eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 57mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat night, min 10°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun morning, light winds from the W by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 97mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 12 | W 14 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 8 | W 9 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | W 12 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1405 | 5323 | 8460 | 11692 | 6270 | 4836 | 3277 | 935 | 1143 | 2647 | 1708 | 1237 | 826 | 715 | 2740 | 1707 | 1094 | 2143 | 992 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | |||||||
— | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | 26 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 26 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | — | — | — | W 14 | W 15 | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | W 16 | NW 10 | NW 9 | W 12 | NNW 8 |
87 | — | — | — | 6270 | 4836 | — | 714 | 492 | 2647 | 1708 | 1237 | 826 | 192 | 132 | 1707 | 1094 | 2143 | 151 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 17 | — | W 12 | W 14 | NNW 9 | WSW 23 |
66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 86 | — | 99 | 653 | 372 | 173 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 14 | W 24 | W 24 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 153 | 12 | 44 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 12 | W 14 | — | — | W 15 | W 8 | W 9 | — | — | — | NNW 5 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | — | — | — | W 11 |
1405 | 5323 | 8460 | 11692 | — | — | 3277 | 935 | 1143 | — | — | — | 30 | 715 | 2740 | — | — | — | 992 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 190 | 207 | 227 | 153 | 153 | 156 | 190 | 190 | 190 | 0 | 0 | 177 | 156 | 153 | 163 | 153 | 63 | 85 | 85 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











