Dinner Plates surf break

Dinner Plates surfForecast / Catlins / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Thursday 14 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Dinner Plates surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Dinner Plates sea temperature is
13.2° C
(Which is 2.6°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dinner Plates this week:

The surf forecast for Dinner Plates over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 15) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 24s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Dinner Plates in the next 16 days are 1.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 16) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Thursday (May 21) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Fri 15th May)5.5ft (1.7m) 12s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 16th May)4.5ft (1.4m) 12s
Most Powerful12PM (Sat 16th May)6ft (1.8m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dinner Plates over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
4
4
3
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
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)
2.3
SSW
14
2.2
SSW
13
2
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
12
1.4
SSW
12
1.1
SSW
19
1.8
SSW
18
1.6
SSW
16
1.2
SW
15
1.1
SW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.7
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2064
1609
1266
876
589
812
1922
1289
657
469
347
197
151
421
305
215
203
140
123
126
240
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
SW
10
NE
5
N
5
E
5
NNW
10
NW
5
WNW
10
NNW
5
NNW
10
WNW
15
N
15
NNW
15
NW
15
NW
15
NW
15
WNW
15
NNW
30
NW
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
00:15AM2.16m
12:40PM2.27m
1:04AM2.24m
1:32PM2.38m
1:55AM2.30m
2:25PM2.44m
2:47AM2.32m
3:20PM2.45m
3:41AM2.31m
4:16PM2.41m
4:38AM2.27m
5:15PM2.34m
5:37AM2.21m
Low Tide
6:03PM0.20m
6:24AM0.17m
6:53PM0.13m
7:14AM0.08m
7:44PM0.10m
8:05AM0.03m
8:38PM0.10m
8:59AM0.01m
9:33PM0.14m
9:56AM0.03m
10:32PM0.19m
10:56AM0.08m
11:32PM0.25m
11:58AM0.14m
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:58
8:00
8:00
8:02
8:03
8:04
8:06
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:21
5:20
5:19
5:17
5:16
5:15
5:15
5:14
1
Temp °C
10
9
8
9
8
7
9
9
8
9
8
7
8
12
12
13
14
14
15
14
15
8
7
5
7
6
5
7
7
5
7
6
5
6
7
9
10
11
11
13
12
9
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
SSW
14
2.2
SSW
13
2
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
12
1.4
SSW
12
1.3
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
18
1.6
SSW
16
1.2
SW
15
1.1
SW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.7
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SW
12
0.5
SW
11
0.6
SSW
18
Energy kJ
2064
1609
1266
876
589
606
1922
1289
657
469
347
197
151
421
305
215
203
140
118
64
240
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.6
SSW
21
1.1
SSW
19
0.2
E
10
0.3
ENE
4
0.4
S
8
0.2
E
11
0.2
E
11
0.4
SW
13
0.5
S
16
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.2
SSW
20
0.2
SSW
21
0.4
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
18
0.6
SW
12
Energy kJ
8
8
8
7
359
812
8
3
21
9
9
60
131
8
7
7
37
44
123
126
106
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
SSE
13
0.1
SE
12
0.1
S
25
0.4
SSW
16
0.1
E
9
0.2
E
12
0.2
E
11
0.1
NE
5
0.4
SW
7
0.4
SW
8
0.2
S
8
0.1
SW
6
0.1
S
21
0.1
SW
6
0.2
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.2
S
11
0.4
SW
6
Energy kJ
17
5
12
83
2
10
10
1
16
14
5
1
9
1
9
2
9
10
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
NE
4
0.6
NW
3
0.3
NW
3
0.3
NW
2
0.5
WNW
3
0.3
NW
3
0.8
WSW
5
0.8
WNW
4
Energy kJ
3
7
2
1
7
1
33
21
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
Distance (km)
37
37
37
37
0
0
44
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
48
Best forecast wave conditions in Catlins
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
7
5
5
5
4
7
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Dinner Plates Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Dinner Plates provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Dinner Plates can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dinner Plates surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Dinner Plates) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Dinner Plates may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Ding Dangs is 2 km (1 miles) from the city of Mossel Bay. If you plan a holiday in Garden Route, look for hotels and other accommodation in Mossel Bay. Mossel Bay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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