Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, W swell with 7,433 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s 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 31) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 13s period. 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 4.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Cobden Breakwater.
We’re in for a rough start, honestly. Friday the 31st of July is a right-off with onshore gales and messy, blown-out 15ft to 16ft walls of whitewater – not for paddling, that’s pure washing machine. The combined energy is extreme (4025 to 8005), but with a westerly screaming at 22 mph, it’s unrideable. You’d want to be on a kite, not a surfboard.
Now, Saturday the 1st of August is where it turns. The morning brings a clean 7ft west swell with a solid 11-second period and a gentle cross-off breeze from the ESE at 9 mph. The water’s sitting at 54°, which is about average for this time of year. Best of all, the afternoon goes glassy – 5ft west swell, 10-second period, and a light SSW breeze at 3 mph. That’s the standout session of the week. Moderate energy (488 to 943) but the conditions are spot on. The break is exposed to a WSW optimum, so this west swell lines up nicely. Crowds are rare here, so you’ll have plenty of room.
Sunday the 2nd of August keeps the good vibes going. Morning sees 3ft west swell, 8-second period, clean with an ESE cross-off. The afternoon gets glassy again with a tiny 1ft swell from the WSW but a very long 21-second period – that’s groundswell, but at a beach break it might be a bit too straight. Still, glassy and clean.
Monday the 3rd of August turns messy again. Rain showers and a stiff WSW wind at 9 to 19 mph blowing onshore, with 4ft to 8ft of westerly swell. The energy is strong (1385 to 1711), but the wind ruins it. Not worth a paddle.
Tuesday the 4th of August is a hidden gem. Morning brings a clean 4ft WSW swell, 15-second period, with a gentle offshore from the east at 9 mph. That’s a treat. The afternoon gets even better: 5ft west swell, 14-second period, light northerly cross-off, and the wave comment says “excellent surf for experienced surfers.” The combined energy is moderate (883 to 1093), but the quality is high. This is your second standout.
The rest of the week through to the 7th of August stays fun but smaller: 2ft to 6ft swells, mostly clean, with glassy afternoons and light winds. The 6th of August afternoon has a 6ft NNW swell with 8-second period and glassy conditions – short period, but clean.
From the 8th of August onward, the swell drops off. Saturday the 8th has a long 19-second period on a tiny 2ft swell, and the 9th and 10th of August see 2ft to 4ft swells, mostly clean with light winds. Not exciting, but rideable on a longboard. The 11th of August is marginal, and by the 12th to the 15th of August, it’s very small (1.0ft to 3ft) with onshore winds and poor conditions. The 15th of August afternoon has a 1.0ft WSW swell with a 24-second period, but a 19 mph onshore wind kills it.
So, the pick of the fortnight is Saturday 1st August morning and afternoon, and Tuesday 4th August afternoon. If you can only get wet once, go for Tuesday the 4th afternoon – clean, punchy, and uncrowded.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri morning, min 4°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Fri morning, calm by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon morning, min 6°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 13 | W 13 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 21 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 15 | W 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | W 8 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | WNW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4025 | 8005 | 4163 | 934 | 434 | 251 | 134 | 146 | 614 | 929 | 1093 | 828 | 551 | 1063 | 523 | 324 | 152 | 50 | 314 | 443 | 199 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | on | on | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:50AM3.21m | 00:03AM3.30m | 12:24PM3.21m | 00:37AM3.29m | 12:59PM3.18m | 1:12AM3.25m | 1:35PM3.12m | 1:51AM3.17m | 2:15PM3.03m | 2:34AM3.07m | 3:01PM2.93m | 3:26AM2.95m | 3:58PM2.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:57PM0.87m | 6:15AM0.83m | 6:30PM0.83m | 6:50AM0.79m | 7:05PM0.82m | 7:27AM0.79m | 7:42PM0.85m | 8:08AM0.83m | 8:24PM0.92m | 8:52AM0.91m | 9:13PM1.01m | 9:45AM1.02m | 10:14PM1.10m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — |
 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — |
mm | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 13 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | W 9 | W 9 | W 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | WSW 12 | N 5 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 4163 | 934 | 434 | 251 | 134 | 117 | 172 | 929 | 618 | 828 | 332 | 1063 | 523 | 324 | 152 | 25 | 314 | 443 | 257 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 22 | WSW 13 | W 20 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 19 | — | — | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | W 20 | W 18 | W 16 | W 9 | W 8 | N 7 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 9 | 54 | 8 | 70 | 66 | 614 | — | — | 427 | 551 | 30 | 56 | 47 | 39 | 50 | 55 | 42 | 199 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | WSW 19 | WSW 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 16 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 35 | 146 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51 | 43 | 58 | 29 | 27 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 13 | — | SE 3 | — | — | NNE 6 | — | — | WSW 7 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | — | ESE 2 |
| kJ | 4025 | 8005 | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 456 | 1093 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 190 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 153 | 122 | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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