Surf Forecasts:
Cobden Breakwater surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, W swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, W swell with 11,856 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cobden Breakwater in the next 16 days are 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cobden Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the pipe for Cobden Breakwater. The next couple of weeks are going to be a wild ride, but we've got to pick our moments.
For the first week, the swell is just too angry. The ocean's got a lot of energy churning (5047 on Sunday morning) and it's blowing a gale straight onshore. The water's sitting at 55°, which is pretty average for this time of year. We're looking at a lot of rain showers and howling westerlies. Honestly, Sunday and Monday are a write-off for a proper paddle session. The swell is massive – over 16ft – and with that wind, it's just a washing machine. Tuesday is no better, with a cross-onshore breeze ruining any chance of shape.
Wednesday the 26th is where we start to see a glimmer of hope. The wind swings around to a light offshore from the north, and while the swell drops a bit, it's still a solid 7ft west swell with a 13-second period. That's a proper groundswell, with real push behind it. It'll be heavy, though – that combined swell energy is still strong (1553) – so this is for experienced surfers only. For a brief window Wednesday morning, it could be on.
Thursday the 27th morning shows some cleaner conditions with a cross-off breeze and a 6ft swell, but the period has dropped to 8 seconds, so it'll be a bit weaker and mushier. Not the standout. The rest of that week and into the weekend is mostly chopped up by cross-onshore breezes or fresh winds. The swell is still there, but it's not clean.
Now, let's talk about the real standouts. They are further down the line, on *Saturday the 5th of September* and *Monday the 7th of September*. Saturday the 5th morning, you are going to want to be in the water. The wind drops to a glassy calm, just a slight air from the SSE. The swell is a modest 5ft from the WSW, with a 12-second period. It's not the biggest, but it will be clean, clean, clean. The combined energy is a moderate 598 – not a beast, but with that glassy surface, every wave will be a gem. This is a bluebird day for the intermediate surfer.
Monday the 7th of September morning is the one for the big dog crew. We've got a solid 10ft swell from the WNW, a 14-second period, and clean conditions with a light cross-off shore from the ESE. The combined energy is pumping at 3419. This is a big, powerful groundswell. The currents out there will be strong, and the sets will be long and heavy. This is an expert-only session, and it promises to be epic.
For the rest of the second week, there are glimpses. The afternoon of Monday the 7th is 8ft and glassy – another fantastic window. A few other days in early September have size but are blown out or too big. Don't sleep on that Saturday the 5th morning, though. That's the one that will have you smiling for days.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun morning, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 77mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Wed morning, fresh winds from the N by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | W 12 | W 14 | W 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 8 | W 8 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 19 | W 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5047 | 8764 | 11856 | 6270 | 4836 | 3515 | 926 | 1107 | 2491 | 1553 | 1367 | 1021 | 336 | 921 | 1778 | 1102 | 846 | 612 | 356 | 480 | 632 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:37PM2.64m | 8:04AM2.69m | 8:33PM2.78m | 8:55AM2.83m | 9:17PM2.94m | 9:38AM2.97m | 9:55PM3.09m | 10:15AM3.09m | 10:29PM3.22m | 10:50AM3.20m | 11:02PM3.31m | 11:23AM3.26m | 11:35PM3.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:23PM1.46m | 1:55AM1.39m | 2:23PM1.34m | 2:47AM1.26m | 3:10PM1.19m | 3:29AM1.11m | 3:49PM1.04m | 4:06AM0.95m | 4:24PM0.89m | 4:40AM0.81m | 4:56PM0.78m | 5:14AM0.69m | 5:29PM0.69m | ||||||||
7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | |
mm | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 14 | W 15 | — | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 8 | W 12 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 |
— | — | — | 6270 | 4836 | — | 613 | 492 | 2491 | 1553 | 1367 | 1021 | 336 | 104 | 1778 | 1102 | 846 | 612 | 356 | 185 | 117 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 19 | WSW 12 | W 16 | WSW 14 | W 13 | NNW 9 | N 8 | NNW 8 | W 19 | W 18 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 150 | 131 | 276 | 176 | 255 | 108 | 65 | 480 | 632 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 17 | — | — | W 24 | N 8 | WSW 13 | W 21 | NNW 8 | W 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 86 | — | — | 11 | 107 | 57 | 317 | 44 | 78 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | W 12 | W 14 | — | — | W 15 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5047 | 8764 | 11856 | — | — | 3515 | 926 | 1107 | — | — | — | — | — | 921 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 213 | 227 | 153 | 153 | 163 | 85 | 190 | 197 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 38 | 128 | 213 | 168 | 169 | 85 | 190 | 0 | 48 | 85 |
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.











