
Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, W swell with 1,840 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period with NNW 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a mixed bag of a 16-day window ahead, with some solid windows of clean swell and some sessions that are going to be a real battle. The standout sessions are definitely worth circling on the calendar, but you’ll have to pick your moments carefully.
The overall pattern starts with a bit of a bumpy ride, but there’s a clear run of excellent conditions from the middle of the first week onwards, especially for the more experienced among you. The water temp is sitting at 54° at the start, bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
We kick off on Saturday, 8 August, at Cobden Breakwater. The morning has a 5.6 ft swell from the NNW with a short 8-second period, and a light ENE offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (432), but the wind is making it clean. The afternoon holds a bit smaller at 4.9 ft, same direction and period, with the wind holding offshore. It’s surfable, but not the best of the run.
Sunday, 9 August, is a write-off. The morning brings a 6.6 ft NNW swell, but a cross-shore wind messes it up, and by the afternoon an 8.2 ft NW swell with a 15 mph cross-onshore wind creates poor, choppy conditions. Best to sit this one out.
Monday, 10 August, is a tale of two halves. The morning is a write-off with a 3.3 ft W swell and onshore wind. But the afternoon? That’s a gem. The swell drops to 3.3 ft, period jumps to 14 seconds, the wind goes glassy, and the energy is moderate (542). Clean, glassy conditions for a long-period groundswell – perfect for this breakwater setup.
Tuesday, 11 August, is small but clean. Morning has 2.6 ft from the WSW with a 13-second period and a light offshore breeze. The afternoon drops to 1.6 ft but the period stretches to 18 seconds – very long-period groundswell. The energy is low (292), but it’s clean. A fun little session for a log or a longboard.
Now, here’s where things get really good. Wednesday, 12 August, morning brings a 7.5 ft NNW swell at 10 seconds with a light cross-offshore breeze and clean conditions. The combined energy is strong (1449). This is excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds at 4.6 ft from the NW with a 11-second period and a light offshore wind – very clean.
Thursday, 13 August, morning is another standout. A 6.6 ft WNW swell at 12 seconds with a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is strong (1161). Excellent, clean conditions. The afternoon drops to 4.9 ft, same direction, with a 11-second period and a light cross-offshore wind – still very good.
Friday, 14 August, morning is magic. Glassy conditions, 4.3 ft from the W at 9 seconds, energy moderate (543). The afternoon turns onshore and becomes marginal.
Saturday, 15 August, morning is the first big standout of the whole outlook. Glassy winds, 7.9 ft from the W at 11 seconds, and the combined energy is very strong (2600). This is excellent for experienced surfers – clean, punchy, and powerful. The afternoon, however, is a disaster with a 9.8 ft W swell and a 19 mph onshore wind – poor, dangerous conditions.
Sunday, 16 August, both sessions are a no-go. The swell is 11.5 ft from the W with a 16-17 second period, and the combined energy is huge (7842 and 7004). The wind is light, but the swell is simply too big for this break.
Monday, 17 August, morning is a redemption. Glassy calm, 8.2 ft from the W at 10 seconds, energy strong (1412). Excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon turns a bit messy with a cross-onshore wind.
Tuesday, 18 August, morning is another big one. 9.8 ft from the WSW at 8 seconds, light cross-offshore wind, clean. The energy is strong (1133). Excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon is too big at 13.1 ft.
Wednesday, 19 August, morning is excellent. 8.2 ft from the W at 14 seconds, light cross-offshore wind, clean. The energy is very strong (2392). This is a serious session. The afternoon becomes marginal.
Thursday, 20 August, morning is very good. 4.9 ft from the W at 9 seconds, light cross-offshore wind, clean. The energy is moderate (793). The afternoon drops off.
Friday, 21 August, morning is clean. 3.6 ft from the W at 14 seconds, light offshore wind, energy moderate (823). The afternoon is glassy with 4.6 ft from the WSW at 14 seconds – very clean.
Saturday, 22 August, morning is glassy, 3.3 ft from the W at 19 seconds – very long period. The energy is moderate (951). The afternoon turns onshore.
Sunday, 23 August, morning is the final standout. 5.2 ft from the W at 15
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 18 | W 17 | NNW 10 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
356 | 298 | 777 | 655 | 1101 | 509 | 435 | 423 | 295 | 222 | 167 | 207 | 963 | 485 | 520 | 1024 | 531 | 208 | 293 | 307 | 656 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on |
High Tide | 6:28PM2.79m | 7:05AM2.87m | 7:43PM2.92m | 8:17AM2.99m | 8:48PM3.11m | 9:19AM3.15m | 9:44PM3.30m | 10:13AM3.29m | 10:33PM3.44m | 11:01AM3.37m | 11:19PM3.51m | 11:44AM3.39m | 00:02AM3.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:06PM1.16m | 00:48AM1.10m | 1:25PM1.10m | 2:02AM0.96m | 2:35PM0.95m | 3:04AM0.76m | 3:33PM0.76m | 3:58AM0.58m | 4:23PM0.60m | 4:47AM0.45m | 5:09PM0.50m | 5:33AM0.40m | 5:52PM0.47m | ||||||||
7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | |
mm | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | W 14 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | N 8 | N 7 | NNW 10 | N 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 |
356 | 298 | 777 | 655 | 181 | 409 | 184 | 119 | 295 | 222 | 58 | 209 | 963 | 554 | 520 | 1024 | 531 | 208 | 293 | 307 | 619 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | W 14 | W 14 | WNW 9 | W 18 | NNW 9 | W 15 | W 14 | W 6 | N 8 | WSW 13 | W 17 | WNW 12 | NW 11 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 18 |
47 | 106 | 203 | 336 | 158 | 265 | 435 | 423 | 47 | 45 | 125 | 207 | 359 | 485 | 187 | 70 | 43 | 92 | 83 | 65 | 656 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | W 18 | W 19 | WSW 14 | — | W 16 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 8 | W 19 | W 18 | — | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 16 | W 17 | NW 9 | WSW 15 | W 16 | WSW 14 |
29 | 163 | 259 | 195 | — | 509 | 135 | 99 | 69 | 188 | 167 | — | 127 | 109 | 103 | 137 | 220 | 152 | 167 | 193 | 336 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 3 | — | E 3 | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | — | 1 | — | 1101 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 136 | 177 | 122 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 153 |
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.











