Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, W swell with 3,568 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here with the lowdown for Cobden Breakwater over the next couple weeks.
We’ve got a big hiccup of swell hitting on Wednesday the 15th. It’s a solid 12ft from the west with a very long 15-second period, and the wave energy is absolutely cranking at 4745. But it’s too much juice for this spot – strictly for the hardcore crew only. The morning has a light cross-off breeze keeping things clean, and the water temp is about normal for the time of year at 56°F.
Come Thursday the 16th, the swell is still hefty around 8ft, but an onshore wind from the WSW at 15 to 20 km/h (9-12 mph) messes it up. Not worth paddling out. Then we get a big turn around on Friday the 18th. The swell eases to a still-chunky 8ft from the west, but the wind goes dead glassy with a light ESE breeze at 5 km/h (3 mph). Conditions are clean, but at that size it’s still an expert’s game.
The real standout is Saturday the 18th. Swell drops to a solid 6ft from the WSW with glassy conditions all day – a light SW breeze at just 5 km/h (3 mph). The period is 14 seconds in the morning, but in the arvo it stretches out to a very long 17 seconds. That long swell might break a bit straight here, but with the wind off, it’ll be clean, powerful, and excellent for the experienced surfer. The wave energy sits at a strong 1949 in the afternoon.
Sunday the 19th is also a winner with 6ft WSW swell and a clean cross-off breeze. The period holds at a long 16 seconds.
Into the second week, the swell drops off. Monday the 20th is still clean with 5ft from the WSW, but the energy is down to 776. Tuesday sees tiny 3ft waves, still clean but only fun for the longboard. Wednesday and Thursday are even smaller and glassy, but only ordinary. The pick of the second week is Thursday the 23rd afternoon, with a clean 4ft from the WSW and a 13-second period. Not a classic, but worth a paddle.
Friday the 24th is a total loss with onshore wind, and Saturday the 25th brings a new pulse of 6ft from the west, but the wind is messy and cross-shore.
Your two best days are Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th. The second week is small and mellow, better for the foamie.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4745 | 3568 | 2803 | 2407 | 2027 | 2216 | 2341 | 2147 | 1739 | 1402 | 1949 | 1916 | 1622 | 1246 | 1075 | 754 | 531 | 361 | 256 | 152 | 107 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 11:16AM3.43m | 11:37PM3.54m | 12:06PM3.44m | 00:25AM3.54m | 12:53PM3.38m | 1:12AM3.45m | 1:39PM3.26m | 1:58AM3.31m | 2:24PM3.11m | 2:46AM3.13m | 3:10PM2.95m | 3:36AM2.95m | 4:01PM2.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:26PM0.57m | 5:51AM0.46m | 6:14PM0.56m | 6:40AM0.50m | 7:00PM0.61m | 7:28AM0.60m | 7:45PM0.72m | 8:15AM0.75m | 8:31PM0.88m | 9:02AM0.94m | 9:20PM1.06m | 9:50AM1.12m | 10:13PM1.23m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — |
 | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | 2 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 15 | — | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 4745 | 3568 | 2803 | 2407 | — | 2216 | 2341 | 2147 | 1739 | 1402 | 1949 | 1916 | 1622 | 1246 | 1075 | 754 | 531 | 361 | 256 | 152 | 107 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | N 10 | NNW 11 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 4 | NNW 4 | WSW 16 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 24 | 26 | 37 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 50 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 10 | N 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 18 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2027 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 169 | 169 | 48 | 156 | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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