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Desperation Point Surf Forecast
/ Taranaki (31 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Desperation Point surfForecast / Taranaki / New Zealand
48hr Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Sunday 17 May 2026 NZSTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Desperation Point surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
16.7° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)How big are the waves at Desperation Point today?
The current surf forecast for Desperation Point at 8AM is: 1.0m 14s primary swell from a West-southwest direction and 0.1m 21s secondary swell from a West direction (forecast issued at 11:00pm May 17). An open ocean swell of 0.6m 4s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be cross-offshore and the swell rating is 2.
| Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height | Wave Period |
|---|---|---|
| Morning (18 May) | 3.5ft (1.0m) | 14s |
| Afternoon (18 May) | 3ft (0.9m) | 13s |
| Evening (18 May) | 2.5ft (0.8m) | 13s |
Table - waves today at Desperation Point. (Swell directed towards the surf break)
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 18 | Tuesday 19 | Wednesday 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | 12 AM | 3 AM | 6 AM | 9 AM | 12 PM | 3 PM | 6 PM | |
Swell Height Map |    |    |    | |||||||||||||||||||||
WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | |
749 | 530 | 431 | 425 | 413 | 303 | 277 | 215 | 212 | 245 | 232 | 525 | 463 | 422 | 394 | 389 | 378 | 384 | 321 | 299 | 277 | 273 | 269 | 269 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | |
High Tide | 10:06PM3.47m | 10:27AM3.35m | 10:53PM3.48m | 11:17AM3.28m | 11:43PM3.41m | 12:10PM3.15m | ||||||||||||||||||
Low Tide | 4:20AM0.14m | 4:42PM0.12m | 5:10AM0.22m | 5:32PM0.23m | 6:03AM0.35m | |||||||||||||||||||
 | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | — | — |
 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5:15 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 |
 kJ | 749 | 530 | 431 | 425 | 413 | 303 | 277 | 215 | 212 | 245 | 172 | 525 | 463 | 422 | 394 | 389 | 378 | 384 | 321 | 299 | 277 | 273 | 269 | 269 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | W 21 | W 21 | WSW 20 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | W 21 | W 21 | W 21 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | W 20 | W 20 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 37 | 73 | 65 | 123 | 172 | 232 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 21 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 21 | S 11 | S 11 | — | W 20 | W 20 | W 20 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 7 | 7 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 |
| kJ | 37 | 28 | 32 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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