Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, W swell with 11,808 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period with WSW 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 (Aug 21) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m 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 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
| 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
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what Cobden Breakwater has in store for the next couple of weeks. It’s gonna swing from tiny and clean to absolutely maxed out, so keep your wits about ya.
Starting Friday the 21st of August, we get a little gem. A 3ft swell from the WSW with a long 14-second groundswell, and it’s glassy all morning. The water’s about 55°, which is normal for this time of year. The combined energy is 443 (moderate) – plenty of push for a fun wave. Afternoon stays glassy with a 3ft pulse, but the morning is the pick. Saturday sees a 2ft swell in the morning with clean conditions, but it’s small. Afternoon turns ugly with a 5ft cross-shore wind at 16 mph and poor surf. Sunday is a complete loss – 16ft to 18ft of swell with onshore winds screaming at 28 mph. Combined energy is 5200 to 7596 (strong). Don’t even think about it.
Monday the 24th is for big-wave hunters only. Morning serves up a 13ft WSW groundswell at 14 seconds, glassy, and a combined energy of 6184 (very strong). It’s too big for the break for most people. Afternoon holds at 12ft. Tuesday morning drops to 7ft with a cross-off breeze, but it’s marginal. Not a standout.
Now, Thursday the 27th of August. This is your main event for the average surfer. A 4ft WSW swell with a clean cross-off breeze in the morning, turning to a gentle offshore in the afternoon. The combined energy is 903 (moderate) to 839 (moderate), and the period is 13 seconds. Clean, shaped, and fun – this is the one to circle.
Friday the 28th is for the experienced crew. Morning has a 13ft NW windswell (10 seconds) with an offshore breeze – too big for most. Afternoon eases to 10ft with a gentle offshore and combined energy of 2005 (moderate). If you’re skilled, the afternoon session is your chance.
Saturday the 29th of August offers tiny 3ft to 3ft WSW groundswell with a very long 20-second period. Combined energy is 840 (moderate). Clean and cross-off winds – good for a longboard if you’re patient. Sunday the 30th is poor with onshore winds.
The first week of September looks steadier. Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September both have clean 4ft to 5ft swells with offshore or cross-off breezes. Combined energy is around 580 to 805 (moderate). Solid, clean, and easy paddling.
The second standout is Saturday the 5th of September. Combined energy is 1066 (moderate) in the morning and 1489 (moderate) in the afternoon, with a 10ft NW to WNW swell. Winds are glassy in the afternoon and near glass in the morning. This is a clean, powerful groundswell for experienced surfers. It’s a long way out, so promising but not locked in.
The best bets: Thursday the 27th of August for everyone, and the afternoons of Friday the 28th and Saturday the 5th of September for the experienced.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, near gales from the NW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 10 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 8 | W 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 443 | 336 | 210 | 163 | 452 | 1656 | 5200 | 7596 | 11808 | 6184 | 4494 | 2830 | 1941 | 1979 | 957 | 2135 | 1327 | 929 | 581 | 350 | 1228 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 5:12PM2.55m | 5:55AM2.55m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:53AM1.43m | 11:36PM1.46m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  |  | | | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 4 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | W 10 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | W 14 | W 14 | W 15 | — | — | WSW 13 | W 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | NW 7 | WSW 14 |
| kJ | 443 | 336 | 210 | 141 | 452 | 87 | — | — | — | 6184 | 4494 | 2830 | — | — | 523 | 2135 | 1327 | 929 | 581 | 171 | 336 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 20 | W 13 | W 13 | W 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WSW 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 8 | 163 | 90 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 102 | 223 | 147 | 71 | 350 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 20 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | — | W 16 | W 16 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 30 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | 251 | 318 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 3 | NNW 4 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 14 | — | — | — | W 14 | W 14 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 7 | 37 | 1656 | 5200 | 7596 | 11808 | — | — | — | 1941 | 1979 | 957 | — | — | — | — | — | 1228 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 190 | 190 | 207 | 246 | 153 | 0 | 153 | 63 | 63 | 190 | 190 | 190 | 156 | 216 | 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.
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