Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Desperation Point 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 12 pm 20 Oct 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
14.4°C
0.3° 

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 Oct):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (20 Oct, local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with WSW swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (20 Oct, local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period with WSW swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (20 Oct, local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period with WSW swell.

The current surf forecast for Desperation Point at 6PM is: 1.4m 13s primary swell from a West-southwest direction and 0.2m 20s secondary swell from a West-southwest direction, 0.4m 4s secondary swell from a South direction (forecast issued at 12:00pm October 20). The wind direction is predicted to be cross-onshore.

Time (NZDT) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (20 Oct)3ft (0.9m)13s
Afternoon (20 Oct)4.5ft (1.3m)13s
Evening (20 Oct)4.5ft (1.3m)12s

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


Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
10 AM
1 PM
4 PM
7 PM
10 PM
1 AM
4 AM
7 AM
10 AM
1 PM
4 PM
7 PM
10 PM
1 AM
4 AM
7 AM
10 AM
1 PM
4 PM
7 PM
10 PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
1
2
1
2
1
0
0
0
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
1.1
SW
13
1.4
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
12
1.3
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
12
1.7
WSW
12
1.9
WSW
8
2.1
WSW
8
1.3
WSW
15
1.3
WSW
15
1.2
WSW
15
1.1
SW
14
1.2
WSW
14
1.1
WSW
14
1
WSW
14
2
WSW
8
2.3
WSW
8
2.5
WSW
8
2.5
WSW
8
2.4
WSW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
295
382
620
591
496
554
893
408
493
683
702
632
424
486
453
390
428
629
828
848
790
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
20
SSE
15
SSW
10
SW
5
WSW
15
WNW
20
W
25
W
25
W
20
WNW
15
WSW
10
W
10
NW
10
WNW
20
W
25
W
25
W
25
WNW
25
W
20
W
20
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:56PM2.49m
6:30AM2.41m
6:56PM2.60m
7:29AM2.53m
7:46PM2.74m
Low Tide
11:35AM1.12m
00:20AM1.05m
12:44PM1.00m
1:22AM0.87m
1:41PM0.82m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
—
—
—
—
—
6:30
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
6:28
—
—
—
—
—
—
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
—
—
—
7:46
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
7:49
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
7:50
—
 mm
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Temp °C
11
13
13
12
11
12
12
11
11
13
14
12
11
11
11
11
12
13
13
12
12
Feels °C
8
9
10
10
10
10
9
6
6
10
12
10
9
9
8
7
8
8
9
8
9
  • 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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