Surf Forecasts:
Kahutara surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, S swell with 3,810 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period with E 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 17s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kahutara in the next 16 days are 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kahutara over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. We got a bit of a slow build this week, so don't get too antsy.
Water's sitting around 50°F, which is pretty average for the time of year, nothing weird going on there.
Friday afternoon is a no-go, flat and messy. Saturday isn't much better, just a weak 3ft wave with no punch and bumpy conditions. Sunday morning brings a bit more size at 8ft, but it's short-period and just not that clean. It's a bit of a grumpy ocean.
The mid-week starts to look a little more interesting. Swell energy picks up through Tuesday and Wednesday, with the S direction kicking in. You're looking at 6-7ft surf but the period is still a bit short, so it won't have that real power behind it. Mornings with a cross-off breeze are your best bet. Wednesday morning is probably the cleanest of this bunch, with some fun 6ft waves.
Now, here's the one you've been waiting for. Thursday the 20th. There's a 6ft S swell with a proper 11-second period, and the morning is looking, dare I say it, glassy. Light W wind, clean faces. This is the best session on offer. It's not gonna be the biggest, but it will be the best shaped and most fun. Mark it on your calendar.
The weekend after that eases off to around 3ft. It's dribbly but clean, good for a log if you're desperate. But then we hit a proper dead spell. From Sunday the 23rd through the 25th, the swell just gives up. We're talking 1-2ft dribble, not really worth the wetsuit.
But hold on. The long-range forecast is serving up a tantalising morsel. Around the 27th, there's a pulse of long-period groundswell forecast. It's only 2-3ft, but the period is a massive 17-18 seconds. That energy will wrap in nicely, and Kahutara, being a reef and point, is the place for it. The morning of the 27th is looking glassy, and the afternoon is just flat calm. It's two weeks out, so don't bet the farm on it, but if it shows, it could be some pristine, clean lines. That's your other window.
So, in short, don't fight it. Hit Thursday the 20th hard, and keep your fingers crossed for the 27th. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 4°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 4°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | S 17 | S 17 | SSW 6 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | E 11 | SSW 7 | S 9 | S 11 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 86 | 92 | 135 | 291 | 674 | 735 | 672 | 424 | 390 | 269 | 261 | 1088 | 3810 | 3388 | 3329 | 1303 | 759 | 804 | 502 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:06AM2.03m | 6:31PM2.08m | 7:04AM2.01m | 7:25PM2.02m | 8:00AM2.00m | 8:21PM1.97m | 8:52AM1.99m | 9:15PM1.92m | 9:42AM1.97m | 10:06PM1.88m | 10:30AM1.94m | 10:55PM1.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:00AM0.30m | 12:20PM0.26m | 00:53AM0.33m | 1:12PM0.33m | 1:43AM0.38m | 2:05PM0.43m | 2:33AM0.44m | 2:59PM0.54m | 3:24AM0.52m | 3:53PM0.62m | 4:15AM0.60m | 4:48PM0.69m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | S 11 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 |
| kJ | 86 | 74 | 94 | 77 | 181 | 264 | 326 | 424 | 390 | 208 | 125 | 66 | 2447 | 3388 | 2391 | 1303 | 759 | 804 | 502 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 | S 15 | E 11 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SE 14 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 14 | S 16 |
| kJ | 20 | 92 | 135 | 264 | 49 | 68 | 90 | 130 | 155 | 269 | 65 | 21 | — | 51 | 67 | 36 | 19 | 29 | 252 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 9 | E 8 | — | SE 16 | E 9 | E 10 | S 7 | SSW 12 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | ESE 14 | SE 11 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 25 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 12 | — | 9 | 83 | 68 | 26 | 26 | 27 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 18 | 42 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 6 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | WSW 3 | SSW 7 | S 9 | S 11 | W 4 | S 14 | — | — | NE 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | 291 | 674 | 735 | 672 | 191 | 69 | 2 | 261 | 1088 | 3810 | 6 | 3329 | — | — | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 139 | 172 | 135 | 194 | 9 | 11 | 54 | 0 | 106 | 138 | 43 | 43 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 135 | 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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