Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, W swell with 2,898 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period with WNW 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 (Aug 14) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. 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 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Rusty here, looking at Cobden Breakwater.
Water temp is around 54°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.
We get started on Thursday, August 13th with some chest-high swell. That’s about 5ft from the WNW, with a bit of power. Glassy wind from the east at 3 mph – clean waves, a nice opener.
Friday morning the 14th drops to about 2-3ft, but it’s a groundswell with a long 15-second period from the WSW. Light cross-off wind from the southeast, so it’s clean, just small.
Now, Saturday morning the 15th is the one to circle. That’s a solid 8ft groundswell from the WSW, with a 16-second period. Wind is glassy from the southeast at 3 mph. The energy reading is 2567. This is big, clean, long-period groundswell – a proper session for experienced surfers. Beginners, sit this one out.
Saturday afternoon the wind goes onshore, so the quality drops. Sunday the 16th holds at around 7ft with cross-off winds – still good for the crew who know what they’re doing. Monday the 17th is around 5ft and clean in the morning.
We hit a quiet spell mid-week. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th have smaller swell, around 3-4ft, but clean with light winds. Still fun. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st stay in the 3-4ft range with offshore or glassy winds, so clean small waves.
But from Saturday the 22nd through Tuesday the 25th, it’s a mess. Strong wind, rain, blown out. Don’t bother.
Then it cleans up again. Wednesday the 26th brings a clean 3ft. Then Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th deliver another proper pulse: a solid 7ft groundswell from the WSW, with Thursday morning having light offshore wind from the ENE. Friday morning the 28th is glassy with light west wind and the same size. Energy is over 2300. These last two days in the second week look prime for experts – it’s further out, so check back, but it’s on the radar.
Cobden Breakwater is fairly consistent, and when it turns on like this, it’s a beauty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 5°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed morning, min 4°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 19 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 13 | W 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 490 | 284 | 1083 | 2345 | 2567 | 2634 | 2861 | 2147 | 1989 | 1460 | 529 | 811 | 646 | 377 | 299 | 280 | 721 | 558 | 752 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 11:19PM3.51m | 11:44AM3.39m | 00:02AM3.49m | 12:26PM3.33m | 00:43AM3.40m | 1:05PM3.23m | 1:23AM3.24m | 1:44PM3.08m | 2:05AM3.05m | 2:24PM2.92m | 2:49AM2.87m | 3:08PM2.77m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:33AM0.40m | 5:52PM0.47m | 6:16AM0.43m | 6:33PM0.52m | 6:57AM0.54m | 7:13PM0.64m | 7:37AM0.70m | 7:53PM0.81m | 8:18AM0.89m | 8:35PM1.00m | 9:01AM1.09m | 9:24PM1.20m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WSW 19 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | W 9 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
| kJ | 490 | 238 | 1083 | 2345 | 2567 | 2634 | 2861 | 2147 | 1989 | 1460 | 207 | 811 | 646 | 377 | 206 | 236 | 721 | 558 | 752 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | W 8 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 | — | W 18 | W 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | — |
| kJ | 337 | 284 | 86 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 529 | — | 25 | 181 | 299 | 103 | 185 | 189 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | W 19 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | — | W 17 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 24 | 188 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | 280 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 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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