Desperation Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Desperation Point 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 5 am 16 Aug 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 Aug):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (16 Aug, local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period with SSE swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (16 Aug, local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period with SSE swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (16 Aug, local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period with SSE swell.

The current surf forecast for Desperation Point at 9AM is: 4.5m 10s primary swell from a South-southeast direction and 2.3m 16s secondary swell from a West-southwest direction (forecast issued at 05:00am August 16). The wind direction is predicted to be cross-offshore.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (16 Aug)15ft (4.5m)10s
Afternoon (16 Aug)15ft (4.5m)10s
Evening (16 Aug)13ft (4.0m)9s

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


Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SE on Sun morning, calm by Mon night).

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
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
1
2
3
4
4
4
3
2
2
1
2
4
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)
2.4
WSW
16
2.1
WSW
16
4.5
SSE
10
4.5
SSE
10
4.5
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
4
SSE
9
2.2
WSW
15
2.1
WSW
15
2
WSW
15
2
WSW
15
1.9
WSW
15
1.5
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
13
1.9
WSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2895
2191
3542
4069
3906
2779
2390
2119
1953
1716
1716
1546
911
1319
1175
1143
1014
928
889
863
950
1060
1134
Wind (km/h)
45
SE
55
SSE
60
SE
60
SE
55
SE
50
SE
50
SE
45
SE
45
SE
45
SSE
40
SSE
30
SSE
25
SSE
10
S
5
SSW
5
E
10
ENE
10
E
15
ESE
15
SSE
10
SW
15
WSW
10
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
glassy
glassy
off
off
cross-off
cross
on
on
cross-off
High Tide
11:58AM3.23m
00:15AM3.27m
12:36PM3.09m
00:52AM3.07m
1:14PM2.92m
Low Tide
5:55AM0.22m
6:08PM0.32m
6:34AM0.35m
6:48PM0.51m
7:13AM0.52m
7:30PM0.73m
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:11
7:09
7:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:46
5:47
 mm
1
2
1
Temp °C
10
9
9
8
8
8
9
9
9
8
9
9
10
9
8
8
7
8
9
10
11
11
10
Feels °C
0
-2
-3
-5
-5
-3
-2
-2
-2
-3
0
1
4
5
6
6
3
4
4
6
7
7
7
  • 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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