
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, W swell with 3,093 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 10) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 7s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer over the next couple of weeks. This forecast is all focused on one spot, so we’ll be riding that wave.
We start off with a solid pulse of swell rolling in on Sunday the 9th. Cobden Breakwater is going to see a 7ft swell from the NNW, but with a light cross-off breeze early, it’ll be clean for the experienced crew. That’s some serious energy too – the combined swell energy is a whopping 1019, so you’ll feel the power. This is not a beginner wave; it’s proper and demanding. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is dead average for this time of year, so nothing weird there. Sunday afternoon turns into a mess with a 16 mph cross-on wind from the WNW and rain – that’s a write-off.
Monday the 10th is a totally different story. The swell drops right back to 3ft, but the wind goes glassy out of the SSW in the morning. That is a major positive for clean conditions. The swell period is a very long 15 seconds, so this is a proper groundswell with plenty of push, but it’s best at this breakwater setup. The energy is moderate at 639. Monday afternoon stays small and clean but cross-onshore.
Tuesday the 11th is tiny – 3ft and 2ft – but with offshore and glassy winds, it’ll be clean as a whistle. The long period of 18 seconds on the afternoon session is ridiculous for such a small wave; it’ll be super consistent but very gentle. Fine for a longboard.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday afternoon the 12th sees a jump back up to 8ft from the NNW, with a gentle offshore breeze from the east. The combined energy is a massive 1543. This is the standout of the first week for the experienced surfer – clean, powerful, and firing. Thursday the 13th keeps it going with 5ft to 6ft and clean conditions, excellent for experienced surfers again. The energy stays high, hitting 1005 on Thursday afternoon.
Saturday the 15th is the absolute jewel in the crown for this period. Saturday morning delivers a 5ft swell from the west with a 16-second period, and it’s glassy. The combined energy is a huge 1937. That’s big, clean, long-period groundswell – this is a day for the experts. Saturday afternoon holds at 5ft and clean.
Sunday the 16th is the biggest of the run. A 8ft swell from the WSW with a 15-second period and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is 2546 – that is very strong. This is only for the experienced, and it’s a true standout. Sunday afternoon gets a bit messy with onshore wind.
The second week settles down. From Monday the 17th onwards, we’re looking at smaller, cleaner waves in the 2ft to 5ft range. The winds are mostly light and offshore or glassy, so the conditions will be good. The period stays long, mostly in the 13 to 17-second range, so the quality is there even if the size isn’t. The energy is moderate, between 173 and 735. Thursday the 20th afternoon is a nice glassy session with a 3ft, 17-second swell – very clean.
Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are similar, small but clean. By Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th, the swell drops off and the period gets short, down to 6 seconds on the 24th. The energy is weak, 121 to 162, and the wind is onshore or cross-off. It’s pretty ordinary.
Overall, if you’re after the real deal, Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are your days. The big, clean, long-period groundswell is a rare treat for experienced surfers. The first week has the size and power; the second week is more about clean, small waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 17 | W 16 | NNW 10 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WSW 15 | W 16 | W 14 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
770 | 1198 | 509 | 435 | 423 | 361 | 222 | 167 | 293 | 126 | 901 | 530 | 453 | 705 | 300 | 222 | 195 | 1014 | 1330 | 1117 | 1297 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:43PM2.92m | 8:17AM2.99m | 8:48PM3.11m | 9:19AM3.15m | 9:44PM3.30m | 10:13AM3.29m | 10:33PM3.44m | 11:01AM3.37m | 11:19PM3.51m | 11:44AM3.39m | 00:02AM3.49m | 12:26PM3.33m | 00:43AM3.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:25PM1.10m | 2:02AM0.96m | 2:35PM0.95m | 3:04AM0.76m | 3:33PM0.76m | 3:58AM0.58m | 4:23PM0.60m | 4:47AM0.45m | 5:09PM0.50m | 5:33AM0.40m | 5:52PM0.47m | 6:16AM0.43m | 6:33PM0.52m | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | 5 | 10 | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 8 |
Feels °C | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | W 17 | NNW 10 | W 7 | W 6 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 10 | N 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 14 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 |
770 | 205 | 322 | 204 | 112 | 361 | 222 | 165 | 160 | 257 | 901 | 440 | 453 | 705 | 300 | 130 | 90 | 1014 | 593 | 700 | 796 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 6 | N 8 | N 8 | WSW 17 | W 16 | NW 11 | NW 10 | N 8 | N 8 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | NNW 7 | W 18 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 |
195 | 128 | 509 | 435 | 423 | 45 | 49 | 46 | 293 | 126 | 573 | 530 | 187 | 111 | 259 | 222 | 48 | 408 | 1330 | 1117 | 1297 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | — | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | W 6 | W 18 | — | WNW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 17 | N 7 | N 6 | W 16 | WSW 5 | NNW 6 | — | — |
54 | — | — | 169 | 101 | 71 | 20 | 167 | — | 69 | 69 | 67 | 237 | 300 | 32 | 15 | 195 | 17 | 14 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 9 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 1198 | 441 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 163 | 122 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.











