Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, W swell with 7,356 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a mixed bag coming up at Cobden Breakwater, with the first good surf arriving Monday morning, August 17th. The water’s at 55°F, which is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.
Monday morning kicks things off with a clean 4ft swell from the WSW at a nice long 14 seconds. The wind’s a light cross-off from the east, so the face will be tidy. Wave energy is moderate at 724. Not a standout size, but it’ll be fun. By Monday afternoon it goes glassy – wind drops to nothing, swell bumps up slightly to 5ft, and the energy climbs to 811. That’s a real treat for a session.
Tuesday morning still looks good: 5ft swell from the WSW, 10-second period, light cross-off breeze, clean conditions (672 energy). Tuesday afternoon gets a bit iffy though – onshore wind and marginal tide make it hard to get excited.
Wednesday morning is a cracker: 4ft swell, but the period jumps to 16 seconds, giving the water some real push – energy is 965. Light cross-off wind again. That’s the kind of groundswell that’ll wrap in nicely, though the longer period might make it break a bit straight if you’re on a beach break. It’s a breakwater, so it should handle it well.
Thursday morning keeps the clean run going: 4ft, 14 seconds, light offshore easterly. Energy’s dropping a bit to 507, but still fun.
Friday morning the swell drops to 3ft, still clean, but smaller. Then we hit a bit of a lull.
Now, the big news: around Saturday the 22nd into the 23rd, things get wild. Saturday morning shows 6ft from the W, but it’s rain showers and cross-on wind, so quality drops. Then Sunday the 23rd – whoa. We’ve got 15ft from the west, 10-second period, onshore SW wind at 19 mph. Energy is 3880 – strong. That’s not paddle-friendly; that’s for the brave or the kite crew. Monday the 24th stays big: 13ft at 16 seconds, cross-on wind, 7356 energy. Same story – too much for most.
From Tuesday the 25th to Wednesday the 26th, the swell stays big (12ft to 13ft), but wind improves. Wednesday afternoon the 26th is the standout for experienced surfers: 10ft, 11 seconds, light cross-off breeze, clean. Energy is 2275. That’s proper, but only for those who know what they’re doing.
Thursday the 27th drops back to 6ft, 8-second period, clean. Friday the 28th is smaller again at 3ft.
Then Saturday the 29th sees another big pulse: 13ft from the NW, 11 seconds, clean with light offshore wind. Energy is 3531 – too big for this break unless you’re an expert.
The best window in the second week is Wednesday the 26th afternoon for the experienced crew. Otherwise, the earlier part of the first week – Monday to Wednesday – is your best bet for clean, manageable waves. No huge standouts, but solid sessions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 3°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat night, min 8°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the WNW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 12 | W 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
536 | 811 | 395 | 501 | 407 | 416 | 730 | 666 | 752 | 507 | 395 | 384 | 341 | 269 | 210 | 711 | 567 | 2024 | 3880 | 4206 | 6286 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | off | off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:44PM3.08m | 2:05AM3.05m | 2:24PM2.92m | 2:49AM2.87m | 3:08PM2.77m | 3:41AM2.70m | 4:03PM2.63m | 4:45AM2.59m | 5:12PM2.55m | 5:55AM2.55m | 6:28PM2.55m | 7:04AM2.59m | 7:37PM2.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:53PM0.81m | 8:18AM0.89m | 8:35PM1.00m | 9:01AM1.09m | 9:24PM1.20m | 9:50AM1.28m | 10:23PM1.36m | 10:53AM1.43m | 11:36PM1.46m | 12:08PM1.50m | 00:50AM1.47m | 1:23PM1.46m | 1:55AM1.39m | ||||||||
7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
Temp °C | 7 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Feels °C | 4 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | NW 5 | W 10 | WNW 9 | — | — | W 12 | — |
536 | 811 | 395 | 501 | 407 | 416 | 730 | 666 | 752 | 507 | 395 | 384 | 341 | 269 | 31 | 711 | 567 | — | — | 4206 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | W 8 | W 14 | W 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | — | — | N 4 | — | — | — | WSW 14 | W 13 | W 13 | — | — | — | — |
188 | — | 103 | 146 | 195 | 304 | 235 | 163 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 210 | 126 | 90 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 18 | W 18 | — | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | W 20 | W 19 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 25 | 25 | — | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 31 | 66 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | — | WNW 9 | W 10 | — | W 15 |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 2024 | 3880 | — | 6286 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 122 | 85 | 190 | 210 | 169 | 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.











