
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 7,475 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
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 coming up for Cobden Breakwater.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid run of surf starting Wednesday morning. The water is sitting at 55°, which is basically normal for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
Wednesday morning is looking sweet. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the WSW, with a period of 11 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze from the East. The wave energy is decent too, sitting at 613 (moderate). Expect very good surf conditions. The afternoon gets even better – the wind goes glassy, coming from the West at just 6 mph, with a 4ft WSW swell. That glassy surface is a massive plus, making for some clean, smooth lines. This is a great start.
Thursday morning is a write-off for me. The wind swings onshore from the SW at 16 mph, pushing a lumpy 8ft swell. The energy jumps up to 1197 (moderate), but the onshore wind will ruin it. The afternoon is a bit better, with a cross-on breeze and a 8ft swell from the West, but the period drops to 9 seconds and the wind is messy. It’s marginal at best.
Now, Friday 11th September is the standout. The morning is pure glass – zero wind from the East. We’re looking at a 10ft swell from the West with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, packing a massive 5618 (strong) energy. This is exceptional surf, but it’s only for expert surfers – that size and power is no joke. The long period means it could be a bit straight at the break, but with those conditions, the power will be incredible. The afternoon is also excellent, with an 8ft swell and glassy conditions, perfect for experienced surfers.
Saturday 12th September is a bust. The wind is onshore and strong, blowing 16-19 mph, and the swell is a messy 13ft. The energy is huge (7216), but it’s a total washout. Sunday the 13th could be a redemption. The morning is glassy again, with a 5ft W swell at 16 seconds. That’s excellent for experienced surfers. The energy is still strong at 2171, so the waves will have plenty of punch.
Monday 14th September morning is another glassy gem. The wind is dead calm, and we’ve got a 6ft W swell with a 15-second period. It’s clean and glassy, excellent for experienced surfers. The energy is 1430 (strong). The afternoon goes onshore, so get out early.
After that, the forecast gets messy. The week of the 15th to the 20th is mostly poor. Strong onshore winds, big lumpy swell, and a lot of rain. The swell is too big and blown out for most. There’s a small window on Tuesday the 15th morning with a tiny 2ft swell, but it’s not worth getting wet for.
The next real glimmer of hope is on the 22nd of September. Tuesday morning has a clean 7ft W swell with a 10-second period and a light offshore breeze from the NE. That’s excellent for experienced surfers. The energy is moderate at 1513. The 23rd of September Wednesday morning is also a standout in the second week. An 8ft W swell with a 16-second period, light cross-off wind, and energy of 3422 (strong). That’s an excellent prospect for experienced surfers, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.
So, overall, the best bet is to hit Friday 11th September morning, or Sunday 13th September morning. The first week gives you the most reliable, glassy conditions. The second week has some promising days, but they’re less certain.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 5°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 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) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 8 | W 9 | WSW 19 | W 18 | W 17 | WSW 16 | W 10 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 14 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
460 | 407 | 320 | 623 | 1004 | 2669 | 5618 | 4322 | 7381 | 3565 | 7216 | 1672 | 1297 | 1117 | 2125 | 1430 | 1108 | 845 | 213 | 270 | 1055 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | on | on | on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 9:07AM3.09m | 9:29PM3.26m | 9:56AM3.21m | 10:14PM3.38m | 10:38AM3.29m | 10:56PM3.42m | 11:18AM3.31m | 11:35PM3.38m | 11:55AM3.27m | 00:12AM3.28m | 12:30PM3.18m | 00:49AM3.14m | 1:06PM3.06m | 1:27AM2.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:19PM0.74m | 3:44AM0.57m | 4:05PM0.58m | 4:28AM0.46m | 4:46PM0.49m | 5:08AM0.43m | 5:25PM0.47m | 5:47AM0.47m | 6:03PM0.53m | 6:24AM0.57m | 6:39PM0.64m | 7:00AM0.71m | 7:16PM0.80m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 15 |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 16 | W 9 | W 11 | W 18 | W 17 | — | — | — | W 16 | W 9 | W 9 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 14 | W 10 | W 9 | — |
460 | 407 | 320 | 341 | 1004 | 1185 | 5618 | 4322 | — | — | — | 1672 | 874 | 621 | 2125 | 1430 | 1108 | 845 | 181 | 270 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | WSW 19 | W 18 | W 21 | WSW 14 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | W 16 | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | — |
26 | 119 | 222 | 233 | 734 | 2669 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1297 | 1117 | — | — | — | — | 213 | 108 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 20 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | — | WSW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 12 | N 12 | — |
127 | 16 | 6 | — | 517 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | WSW 16 | W 10 | W 16 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 |
— | — | — | 623 | — | — | — | — | 7381 | 3565 | 7216 | 1391 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1055 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 77 | 172 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 153 | 180 | 153 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 0 | 0 | 217 | 210 |
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.










