Surf Forecasts:
Kahutara surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, S swell with 493 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kahutara this week:
The surf forecast for Kahutara over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kahutara in the next 16 days are 1.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kahutara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Kahutara’s got lined up over the next couple of weeks.
Monday the 14th kicks things off with a cracker. A clean 5ft swell from the south, 11-second period, and moderate wave energy (621). The wind is glassy, just a light southerly, so it’ll be smooth as glass. Water temp is 51°, right on average for this time of year. This is the standout early on—the best session of the first few days.
Tuesday the 15th is smaller, with 3ft from the south and a shorter 9-second period, but still glassy in the morning. Worth a look if you’re after a quiet paddle, but nothing special.
Wednesday the 16th through Friday the 18th are mostly poor. A brief window Thursday afternoon with 5ft southerly swell and 7-second period, but it’s short period and cross-off wind. Not great.
Then we hit a lull. Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th are tiny, with 3ft and 2ft southerly swells, but the period is long (15 and 13 seconds). Clean, but barely surfable unless you’re on a longboard.
Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd are a mess—strong winds, messy conditions, and a drop in swell. The 50 km/h offshore on Monday afternoon is more for kite-surfing than paddle surfing.
Now for the big stuff. Wednesday the 23rd brings a solid 8ft southerly swell, 10-second period, and clean conditions in the morning with glassy afternoon winds. Wave energy is very strong (1469). This is for experienced surfers only. This is the standout—circle this day.
Thursday the 24th follows with another beauty: 8ft from the SSE, 12-second period, and completely glassy—calm wind. Wave energy is massive (2045). Expert-only, but absolutely pristine.
Friday the 25th drops to 5ft with cross-on wind, more marginal.
Saturday the 26th is a mixed bag: 6ft from the SE, 12-second period, but strong cross-off winds (25 km/h) make it choppy. High energy (1029), but wind spoils it.
Sunday the 27th is another standout: 13ft from the SE, 10-second period, and glassy conditions. That’s a huge wave—very strong energy (4014). Only for the brave. Afternoon drops to 8ft, still glassy, still excellent.
Monday the 28th holds at 6ft from the ESE, 10-second period, with glassy conditions. Very good surf, more manageable.
Tuesday the 29th sees a 10ft swell from the SE, 12-second period, but with cross wind and rain. Not as clean, but still powerful.
So, to wrap it up: Monday the 14th is your early standout for clean, fun waves. But the real gold is Wednesday the 23rd through Sunday the 27th, with Wednesday the 23rd and Sunday the 27th being the absolute best for experienced surfers. That 13ft day on the 27th is one for the books. Long-period swells like these can break a bit straight at beach breaks, but Kahutara is a reef and point setup, so it should handle it well.
Crowds are sometimes an issue, so get out early if you can.
Stay stoked, and I’ll see you in the water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 6 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 493 | 388 | 279 | 165 | 99 | 32 | 36 | 16 | 27 | 94 | 205 | 58 | 219 | 255 | 219 | 283 | 298 | 157 | 163 | 99 | 57 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross | cross | off | glassy | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:58PM1.95m | 7:31AM2.00m | 7:51PM1.91m | 8:20AM1.99m | 8:43PM1.87m | 9:06AM1.96m | 9:32PM1.84m | 9:50AM1.91m | 10:19PM1.81m | 10:35AM1.87m | 11:03PM1.77m | 11:23AM1.83m | 11:49PM1.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:48PM0.45m | 1:12AM0.46m | 1:39PM0.53m | 1:59AM0.53m | 2:30PM0.60m | 2:46AM0.61m | 3:20PM0.66m | 3:34AM0.68m | 4:09PM0.71m | 4:22AM0.73m | 4:58PM0.73m | 5:09AM0.74m | 5:48PM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | NE 6 | SE 10 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SSE 6 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 15 | S 15 | ESE 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 493 | 388 | 279 | 165 | 99 | 29 | 36 | 7 | 13 | 46 | 39 | 58 | 219 | 255 | 219 | 283 | 298 | 111 | 163 | 99 | 57 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 15 | NE 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 8 | SE 10 | S 15 | S 15 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | S 15 | SE 12 | SE 11 | S 15 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 121 | 80 | 43 | 39 | 25 | 32 | 12 | 10 | 27 | 39 | 41 | 33 | 21 | 11 | 168 | 144 | 126 | 157 | 81 | 58 | 48 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | NE 3 | — | S 14 | SE 8 | NE 6 | SE 10 | ESE 7 | NE 5 | NE 12 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 9 | E 6 | ENE 4 | S 9 | S 16 | SSW 15 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 16 | 17 | 6 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 52 | 45 | 83 | 26 | 7 | 10 | 39 | 45 | 43 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 3 | NE 2 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 6 | — | WSW 3 | — | SSW 3 | S 6 | S 7 | WSW 3 | — | NE 7 | WSW 2 | — | NE 4 | — | — | NE 4 | — |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 80 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 94 | 205 | 3 | — | 13 | 1 | — | 19 | — | — | 6 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 70 | 9 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 33 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kahutara Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kahutara provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kahutara can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kahutara 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 (Kahutara) 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 Kahutara 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.
Kahutara is 106 km (66 miles) from the city of Blenheim. If you plan a holiday in Kaikoura and Marlborough, look for hotels and other accommodation in Blenheim. Blenheim has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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