Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 12s period, WSW swell with 10,406 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period with WNW 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 6.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Cobden Breakwater.
We’ve got a pretty wild 16-day run ahead. The first few days are a write-off, but there’s a real standout session on the horizon if you’re patient. The water temp is sitting at 55° which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
The opening act, starting Wednesday the 26th, is a no-go. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the WNW, but it’s paired with a nasty 30 km/h cross-on wind from the NW. The combined energy is moderate (1080), but the conditions are just lumpy and poor. Don’t bother.
Thursday the 27th morning brings a glimmer of hope. The swell drops to 6ft from the WNW, with a moderate offshore breeze from the E at 20 km/h. It’ll be clean, and the combined energy is a moderate 849. This is the first real look of the window. Expect “very good surf conditions.”
Thursday afternoon gets messy again. Swell jumps to 8ft from the NW, wind swings cross-off from the NNE at 30 km/h – the size might be a bit much for a clean session and it’s marginal.
Friday the 28th is out of control. Morning swell is 12ft from the NNW with a cross-shore wind at 35 km/h. The combined energy is a strong 2566. That’s too big and too messy for paddle surfing; honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing. Afternoon stays big at 10ft but onshore winds ruin it.
Saturday the 29th morning is the real standout. We get a 6ft swell from the W, and the wind goes glassy at just 5 km/h from the WNW. Combined energy is a moderate 873. This is the best bet of the early window. It will be clean, glassy, and perfect for intermediates. A real treat.
After that, the swell goes rogue. Sunday the 30th brings a huge 10ft to 16ft swell with strong cross-onshore winds. The combined energy on Sunday afternoon hits a very strong 5231. It’s a mess and too big for this break.
Monday the 31st through Tuesday the 1st of September is all heavy, onshore swell. Swells over 12ft with long periods, but the wind is either on or cross-on. Marginal at best. The combined energy stays strong (over 1992). It’s just not worth it.
Tuesday the 2nd of September is a write-off with near-gale force winds. Wednesday the 3rd of September morning is for the brave: a 10ft swell from the W, with a 16-second period and glassy, calm conditions (0 km/h wind). The combined energy is a very strong 4333. This is an expert-only session – that period is very long and it’ll be powerful, but if you have the skills and the right break (it’s a breakwater), it could be an incredible, clean wave. This is the second standout, but only for the experienced.
The rest of the second week (4th to 10th of September) is dominated by huge, dangerous swell. Expect 12ft to 20ft waves, often with cross-onshore winds and very strong to very strong combined energy (over 5000). On the 8th, the swell hits 20ft (with energy of 19278), glassy, but it’s way too big for this spot. All of these are expert-only or straight out dangerous. The 10th of September offers a 12ft swell with a cross-offshore breeze from the N at 15 km/h, but the size is still extreme for this break.
The Bottom Line: If you’re an intermediate, your window is Thursday morning the 27th and Saturday morning the 29th of August. The 29th is the cleanest, glassiest option. For experts only, Wednesday morning the 3rd of September is a very special, powerful, glassy session. Everything else is too big, too windy, or both. This break will be a tangled mess for most of the run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 86mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Thu night, calm by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, strong winds from the WSW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 10 | W 11 | W 9 | W 19 | W 18 | W 8 | W 10 | W 13 | W 14 | W 14 | W 10 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
557 | 878 | 606 | 857 | 2756 | 2434 | 1751 | 2029 | 539 | 273 | 404 | 946 | 5231 | 9949 | 5890 | 5553 | 2326 | 1138 | 2232 | 1543 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:55PM3.09m | 10:15AM3.09m | 10:29PM3.22m | 10:50AM3.20m | 11:02PM3.31m | 11:23AM3.26m | 11:35PM3.37m | 11:57AM3.29m | 00:09AM3.38m | 12:31PM3.27m | 00:45AM3.33m | 1:07PM3.21m | 1:25AM3.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:49PM1.04m | 4:06AM0.95m | 4:24PM0.89m | 4:40AM0.81m | 4:56PM0.78m | 5:14AM0.69m | 5:29PM0.69m | 5:47AM0.62m | 6:02PM0.65m | 6:22AM0.61m | 6:36PM0.67m | 6:59AM0.65m | 7:15PM0.73m | |||||||
— | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | |
mm | 16 | 31 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 16 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 11 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | N 8 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 |
523 | 878 | 606 | 181 | 203 | 132 | 126 | 2029 | 539 | 260 | 229 | 10 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 1138 | 2232 | 1543 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | — | — | W 23 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 229 | 157 | 48 | — | — | 10 | 517 | 190 | 109 | 404 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 16 | W 17 | — | — | — | — | W 22 | WSW 21 | W 19 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 47 | 86 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 144 | 273 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | — | — | NW 8 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 10 | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 10 | W 13 | W 14 | W 14 | W 10 | W 9 | — | — |
557 | — | — | 857 | 2756 | 2434 | 1751 | — | — | — | — | 946 | 5231 | 9949 | 5890 | 5553 | 2326 | 854 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 153 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 136 | 156 | 197 | 85 | 0 | 168 | 0 | 197 | 210 | 263 | 153 | 153 | 153 | 48 | 153 | 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.











