Desperation Point Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.47° S 173.86° E

Desperation Point 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 5 pm 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Desperation Point sea temperature is
14.7° C
0.7° 

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 (21 Jul):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (21 Jul, local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period with WSW swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (21 Jul, local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s period with WSW swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (21 Jul, local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with WSW swell.

The current surf forecast for Desperation Point at 1AM is: 1.3m 13s primary swell from a West-southwest direction (forecast issued at 05:00pm July 20). An open ocean swell of 0.2m 11s is not directed at the surf break, a second 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 3.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (21 Jul)4.5ft (1.3m)13s
Afternoon (21 Jul)4.5ft (1.3m)13s
Evening (21 Jul)3ft (0.9m)13s

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


Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
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
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
WSW
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
7
2.1
WSW
7
2.1
WSW
7
2.1
WSW
7
1.8
WSW
7
1.6
WSW
7
1.3
WSW
6
0.7
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
721
710
700
634
624
615
528
520
512
630
286
262
430
482
431
299
216
127
142
Wind (km/h)
20
ESE
25
ESE
20
ESE
15
ESE
10
ESE
10
E
5
ENE
10
WNW
15
WNW
20
W
20
W
25
W
25
W
30
WSW
25
WSW
15
SW
10
SSW
5
ESE
5
NE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
1:56PM2.86m
2:15AM2.87m
2:43PM2.70m
3:05AM2.68m
3:37PM2.56m
Low Tide
8:09PM0.75m
8:37AM0.74m
8:58PM0.93m
9:25AM0.89m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:37
7:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:23
5:24
 mm
Temp °C
12
11
9
9
9
8
9
11
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
11
10
Feels °C
8
5
4
4
5
5
6
8
8
8
7
7
6
6
7
9
10
10
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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