Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, W swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, W swell with 6,877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s. 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 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3PM. 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 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, listen up. Right now, Wednesday the 9th, it's flat and messy. We got a small 4ft WSW swell, but the west wind is making it cross-on and choppy. Water temp is 55°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year.
First real chance to get wet is Friday morning, the 11th. A solid west groundswell rolls in at 10ft with a huge 18-second period. The wind goes glassy, just a hint from the east-southeast. This will be exceptional, but it's only for the advanced crew – 10ft is serious. Friday afternoon backs down to 8ft at 17 seconds, still glassy and still pumping. If you can, get on it Friday.
Saturday the 12th is a no-go – the swell jumps to 13ft and the wind turns onshore from the southwest. It’s just too big and blown out. Complete washout.
Sunday and Monday are messy – onshore winds, rain, and the swell drops out. There’s a small 7ft swell with a decent 15-second period on Monday, but the west-southwest wind will have it all chopped up.
Tuesday morning the 15th is a brief window of clean fun. Swell drops to 4ft but the wind shifts to the NNE, which is cross-off and clean. It’ll be surfable, but a bit small. The afternoon looks average again.
From the 16th to the 19th, it’s all onshore wind and big, stormy swells. I’d stay home.
The next standout is Sunday morning the 20th. We get 7ft of west swell at 14 seconds, and the wind goes glassy again from the east-southeast. Another clean day for the experienced surfer. The afternoon gets onshore, so get your fill early.
There are a few so-so days after that, but Tuesday morning the 22nd looks like a fun one – smaller at 5ft, but glassy and clean, with the west-southwest swell holding at 15 seconds.
And then the morning of Wednesday the 23rd has some potential – 5ft of WSW swell with offshore easterly breeze. Fun size, clean conditions.
The swell fades out after that, with weak, short-period leftovers for the last couple of days.
So, two real highlights: Friday the 11th – huge and glassy, for experts only. And Sunday the 20th – slightly smaller, but still clean and solid. The rest is a bit of a rough road.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 4°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 | W 10 | WSW 7 | WSW 9 | WSW 19 | W 18 | W 17 | W 10 | W 11 | W 16 | WSW 16 | W 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | W 15 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 10 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 407 | 320 | 514 | 997 | 2669 | 5320 | 4322 | 2812 | 4096 | 6877 | 1916 | 1330 | 1003 | 828 | 1739 | 1533 | 951 | 585 | 230 | 1093 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | on |
High Tide | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 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 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 15 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 9 | W 11 | W 18 | W 17 | — | W 11 | — | WSW 16 | W 16 | WSW 16 | W 9 | W 15 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 14 | WSW 14 | — |
| kJ | 407 | 320 | 341 | 997 | 1102 | 5320 | 4322 | — | 4096 | — | 1916 | 1330 | 1003 | 710 | 1739 | 1533 | 951 | 585 | 145 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 19 | W 18 | W 21 | WSW 15 | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 15 | — | — | — | N 12 | N 12 | — |
| kJ | 119 | 222 | 233 | 744 | 2669 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 828 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NNW 8 | — | WSW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 16 | 6 | — | 517 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 16 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 514 | — | — | — | — | 2812 | — | 6877 | 1148 | 919 | 961 | — | — | — | — | — | 230 | 1093 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 12 | 63 | 172 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 153 | 332 | 122 | 153 | 156 | 48 | 153 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 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.
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