Desperation Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Desperation Point 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 5 am 20 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
13.9°C
0.4° 

Desperation Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


How big are the waves at Desperation Point today (20 Sep):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (20 Sep, local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 11s period with WSW swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (20 Sep, local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period with WSW swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (20 Sep, local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period with WSW swell.

The current surf forecast for Desperation Point at 8AM is: 5.5m 11s primary swell from a West-southwest direction (forecast issued at 05:00am September 20). The wind direction is predicted to be onshore.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (20 Sep)18ft (5.5m)11s
Afternoon (20 Sep)16ft (5.0m)12s
Evening (20 Sep)15ft (4.5m)14s

Table - waves today at Desperation Point. (Swell directed towards the surf break)


Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun morning, calm by Sun night).

Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
!
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
!
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4
WSW
9
5
WSW
10
5.5
WSW
11
5
WSW
12
5
WSW
12
4.5
WSW
12
4.5
WSW
14
4
WSW
15
3.5
WSW
16
3.5
WSW
16
3.5
WSW
16
3.5
WSW
16
3.5
WSW
15
3
WSW
15
3
WSW
14
3
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
14
2.3
W
14
2.4
W
14
3.5
WSW
8
3
WSW
9
3
WSW
9
4
WSW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2376
4914
6833
6979
6963
6672
7932
7073
6618
5840
5341
5273
4902
4237
3644
3180
2613
2068
2179
1454
1647
1616
3088
Wind (km/h)
40
W
45
WSW
45
SW
40
SW
40
WSW
30
SW
10
SE
5
ENE
15
W
25
W
30
W
30
WNW
30
WNW
30
WNW
30
WNW
25
NW
25
NW
25
NNW
25
WNW
35
WSW
30
SSE
25
SW
40
SW
Wind State
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
on
High Tide
3:53AM2.34m
4:34PM2.41m
5:12AM2.34m
5:52PM2.48m
6:21AM2.43m
6:50PM2.62m
Low Tide
10:01AM1.19m
10:58PM1.24m
11:29AM1.16m
00:17AM1.12m
12:39PM1.01m
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
light rain
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:16
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:17
6:19
6:20
 mm
1
1
1
Temp °C
13
10
11
12
12
11
11
9
10
11
11
12
12
12
12
12
12
13
14
12
11
11
11
Feels °C
5
0
1
3
3
4
8
7
6
5
5
6
6
6
6
7
7
9
10
4
5
6
2
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 

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