Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, W swell with 6,761 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 3.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s run through the same story in feet and miles.
The opening act is a bit lackluster, but the main event is a Friday that’s pure magic. The wave energy is pumping (5618), with a 10-foot swell out of the west, a 18-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, packing a serious punch. And the wind? A light offshore breeze, almost glass. The lineup will be clean as a whistle. The afternoon gets even better, going dead calm with zero wind, still a solid 10-foot west swell. This is big stuff, so it’s for the experts only. If you’re up for it, don’t even think about missing it.
So, Tuesday the 8th is a gentle start. You’ve got a clean 4-foot west swell, 12-second period, and light cross-off winds. The energy is moderate (458), but it’s a nice, easy paddle. Wednesday morning the 9th looks better with a 4-foot WSW swell, clean conditions, and a bit more energy (560). That’s a solid morning session.
Thursday the 10th goes downhill fast. The wind swings onshore, the swell gets messy, and the energy jumps to 1326, but it’s all chop. Just skip it. That poor stretch runs through the weekend – Saturday and Sunday are blown to bits with strong onshore winds and big, lumpy waves. Monday the 14th morning offers a brief break: glassy conditions, an 8-foot west swell with 14-second period, and strong energy (2578). That’s another one for the experienced crew, but it’s clean.
The middle of the week (15th-17th) is a total loss – strong winds, onshore slop, and rain. Don’t even think about it. Then, on Friday the 18th, we get another beauty: glassy calm, 10-foot west swell, 15-second period, and massive energy (4017). That’s a Friday to circle. The Saturday morning after, the 19th, is also a treat with a clean 5-foot west swell and a gentle offshore breeze.
The very end of the run, on the 22nd and 23rd, looks good again with glassy or clean conditions and waist-to-chest-high west swells, but the real standout is that Friday the 11th. Get out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed afternoon, min 4°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 3°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 12 | W 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | W 19 | W 18 | W 17 | WSW 16 | W 11 | W 14 | W 16 | WSW 16 | W 9 | W 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 250 | 353 | 284 | 158 | 400 | 407 | 320 | 906 | 2523 | 6195 | 5618 | 4641 | 5319 | 3580 | 5545 | 4248 | 1042 | 996 | 3185 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:11AM2.94m | 8:39PM3.09m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:57AM0.94m | 2:26PM0.94m | 2:54AM0.74m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | |  |  | |
 | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
Temp °C | 6 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | W 12 | W 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 20 | W 19 | W 18 | W 17 | — | W 11 | — | W 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | W 15 |
| kJ | 250 | 353 | 284 | 158 | 400 | 407 | 320 | 906 | 512 | 6195 | 5618 | 4641 | — | 3580 | — | 4248 | 1042 | 860 | 3185 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WSW 19 | W 18 | W 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 222 | 80 | 67 | 79 | 33 | 119 | 222 | 233 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | W 18 | WNW 11 | W 9 | WSW 20 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 57 | 25 | 22 | 41 | 127 | 16 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | WSW 14 | — | — | — | WSW 16 | — | W 14 | — | W 9 | W 9 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 187 | 2523 | — | — | — | 5319 | — | 5545 | — | 854 | 996 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 63 | 85 | 173 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 153 | 156 | 153 | 153 | 156 | 153 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Cobden Breakwater surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest