Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, W swell with 3,023 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 16s 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) 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+) | 9PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's coming up in the next couple of weeks.
The main event is all at Cobden Breakwater, and it kicks off with a bang this weekend. Saturday morning, the 15th of August, is a ripper. We've got a solid 8ft groundswell rolling in from the west, with a long 16-second period. The energy in the water is massive (2789). The wind is a light cross-off from the SE, which will keep it glassy. Water temp is about 55°, which is normal for this time of year. This is serious, powerful stuff for experienced surfers only. The afternoon swings onshore, so the morning is the clear winner.
Sunday the 16th is still looking clean. Another solid morning, 8ft of WSW swell, still a long 15-second period, with a clean cross-off breeze. The energy is still high at 2347. The afternoon session on Sunday sees the wind ease off and the swell drops a touch to 7ft, but it stays clean. Honestly, the whole weekend is a standout for anyone who can handle it.
Monday the 17th sees the swell back off to about 5ft, but it's still a long-period groundswell with light, clean wind. A very good option for the more experienced intermediate surfer.
The middle of the week, from Tuesday the 18th through Friday the 21st, the swell drops right off, with heights around 3ft to 5ft. The winds are mostly light and clean, but the energy is low (around 437 to 633). It's surfable, but nothing to get too excited about. There's a small window on Thursday the 20th morning with a light offshore breeze from the east, making it clean, but the swell is only 4ft.
We hit a rough patch on Saturday the 22nd. The swell is a weak 4ft and the wind is getting messy. By the afternoon, the wind is onshore and swells to 5ft, it's getting a bit lumpy.
Now, Sunday the 23rd of August is a classic case of too much of a good thing. The swell is predicted to be a massive 12ft, but it's coming from the NW with a short 10-second period, and the wind is howling onshore at 12 mph. It's going to be a washing machine. This is strictly for the big-wave chargers, but honestly, the conditions look more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.
The real standout of the whole forecast arrives on Monday the 24th of August. The morning is an absolute gem. We're looking at a 8ft groundswell from the west, with a super-long 17-second period. The combined energy is massive at 4070. The wind is a light cross-off from the east. This is a dream combo for Cobden Breakwater. This is the best on offer, no question. It's a big, powerful, clean swell, so grab your step-up. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 10ft, but the wind swings to a cross-on, so it's not as clean.
Tuesday the 25th is another massive day, 12ft of swell, but again, it's too big and the wind is onshore, so it's messy and dangerous. The energy is through the roof at 5559, but it's not a day for a paddle. Wednesday the 26th is still big, with 8ft and 7ft surf, but the winds are lighter and cross-off, making for some very clean, powerful waves for the experienced crew.
From Thursday the 27th onwards, the swell starts to fade. We've got a 5ft swell on the 27th morning, but by the afternoon the wind is onshore and it's gone. The last few days of the month are small, with 2ft to 4ft, and mostly clean, but the energy is low. It'll be a fun board for a longboard or a fish, but nothing to set the alarm for.
So, to put it simply: this weekend and next Monday morning are your absolute standouts. Everything else is a case of pick your moment.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 3°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 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 16 | W 16 | W 16 | WSW 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2789 | 2601 | 1440 | 2347 | 2177 | 1460 | 965 | 811 | 555 | 282 | 370 | 461 | 596 | 544 | 423 | 633 | 471 | 384 | 437 | 269 | 405 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | off | cross | off | off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 3:41AM2.70m | 4:03PM2.63m | 4:45AM2.59m | 5:12PM2.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:50AM1.28m | 10:23PM1.36m | 10:53AM1.43m | 11:36PM1.46m | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | W 16 | W 10 | WSW 15 | W 15 | WSW 15 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 14 |
2789 | 2601 | 785 | 2347 | 2177 | 1460 | 965 | 811 | 555 | 282 | 370 | 461 | 288 | 294 | 423 | 633 | 471 | 384 | 437 | 269 | 405 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 | W 16 | W 15 | WSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | W 24 |
— | — | 1440 | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 189 | 195 | 300 | 596 | 544 | 197 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | — | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 19 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 173 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 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.











