Desperation Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Desperation Point 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 5 pm 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
14.0° C
0.5° 

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 (18 Aug):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (18 Aug, local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period with WSW swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (18 Aug, local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period with WSW swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (18 Aug, local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period with WSW swell.

The current surf forecast for Desperation Point at 2AM is: 1.6m 14s primary swell from a West-southwest direction and 0.4m 5s secondary swell from a South-southeast direction (forecast issued at 05:00pm August 17). The wind direction is predicted to be offshore and the swell rating is 3.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (18 Aug)5.5ft (1.7m)14s
Afternoon (18 Aug)5.5ft (1.7m)13s
Evening (18 Aug)6ft (1.9m)12s

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


Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, strong winds from the SE by Tue night).

Mon
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
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)
2
3
4
4
3
3
4
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
1.6
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.9
WSW
13
1.9
WSW
12
2
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
1.7
WSW
12
2.5
SSE
8
1.6
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
16
1.8
WSW
16
1.8
WSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1546
1319
1175
1143
955
928
994
965
1042
1134
1027
646
904
984
795
835
1629
1588
1487
Wind (km/h)
25
SSE
10
S
0
ENE
10
ENE
10
E
10
ENE
10
SE
10
S
10
SW
10
SW
25
ESE
35
SE
40
SE
35
SE
35
SE
30
SE
20
SE
10
SSE
5
SSE
Wind State
cross
cross
glassy
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
12:36PM3.09m
00:52AM3.07m
1:14PM2.92m
1:30AM2.85m
1:55PM2.75m
Low Tide
6:48PM0.51m
7:13AM0.52m
7:30PM0.73m
7:52AM0.71m
8:15PM0.93m
cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:47
5:49
 mm
Temp °C
10
9
8
8
8
7
9
11
11
11
10
9
9
10
10
11
11
10
10
Feels °C
4
5
6
4
4
4
5
7
8
8
4
1
0
1
2
4
6
7
8
  • 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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