Desperation Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Desperation Point 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 11 am 16 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 (16 Sep):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (16 Sep, local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with WSW swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (16 Sep, local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with WSW swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (16 Sep, local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period with WSW swell.

The current surf forecast for Desperation Point at 4PM is: 0.9m 13s primary swell from a West-southwest direction and 0.8m 5s secondary swell from a West-southwest direction, 0.7m 4s secondary swell from a Northwest direction (forecast issued at 11:00am September 16). The wind direction is predicted to be cross-shore.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (16 Sep)3ft (0.9m)13s
Afternoon (16 Sep)3ft (0.9m)13s
Evening (16 Sep)4.5ft (1.3m)12s

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


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri night).

Wed
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
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
1
2
2
3
2
2
2
!
1
!
!
!
3
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
1
WSW
12
1.3
WSW
12
1.7
W
12
1.7
WSW
11
1.9
WSW
11
2
W
14
1.6
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
3
NW
9
2.5
WSW
13
3
WSW
13
3
WSW
11
3
WSW
11
1.9
WSW
15
2.5
WSW
15
2.5
WSW
15
1.9
WSW
15
3.5
WSW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
295
295
290
320
500
752
764
911
1505
889
929
1242
2053
2907
2226
2522
1642
3424
3022
1557
2223
Wind (km/h)
20
NW
25
NW
25
NW
20
NNW
20
NNW
20
N
25
N
25
N
30
N
30
N
30
N
30
NNW
15
WSW
15
WSW
10
W
0
SSE
15
SE
20
S
25
WSW
25
WSW
35
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
on
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
on
High Tide
12:36PM2.97m
00:52AM2.82m
1:15PM2.80m
1:36AM2.63m
2:03PM2.62m
Low Tide
6:35AM0.50m
6:54PM0.73m
7:12AM0.70m
7:38PM0.93m
7:55AM0.90m
8:30PM1.11m
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:22
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:15
6:15
6:15
 mm
2
1
1
2
Temp °C
13
14
14
13
12
12
13
13
14
14
13
13
12
11
11
11
11
12
12
12
13
Feels °C
9
9
9
8
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
8
8
11
8
8
7
7
6
  • 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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