Leithfield Beach surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Tuesday 05 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Leithfield Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Leithfield Beach sea temperature is
13.7° C
(Which is 1.7°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Leithfield Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Leithfield Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 08) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Leithfield Beach in the next 16 days are 1.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 11) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 9s period and expected on Friday (May 08) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Fri 8th May)2.5ft (0.7m) 8s
Best Surf 6PM (Mon 11th May)4.5ft (1.4m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 11th May)5.5ft (1.7m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Leithfield Beach over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the NE by Fri afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri night, min 5°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (gales from the NNW on Fri night, light winds from the WNW by Sun morning).

Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tue
12
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
3
2
3
2
1
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
18
0.2
SSE
15
0.2
SSE
15
0.3
ENE
9
0.2
E
10
0.4
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
8
0.7
ENE
8
0.1
S
15
1.3
ENE
9
1
ENE
10
0.8
ENE
10
0.5
ENE
9
0.5
ENE
9
0.5
ENE
10
0.5
SSE
17
1.7
SSE
17
1.5
SSE
16
1.1
SE
14
0.9
SE
13
0.9
SE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
78
22
21
17
8
26
88
62
4
251
197
105
47
43
52
166
1644
1170
529
253
245
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
15
NNW
0
NW
10
NNW
15
NNE
25
N
15
NNE
15
N
25
ENE
40
NNW
30
NW
15
E
10
NW
5
NNW
5
N
30
SW
20
WSW
25
SW
15
NNW
10
NNW
10
SSE
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
7:58AM1.65m
8:23PM1.77m
8:46AM1.61m
9:11PM1.74m
9:33AM1.58m
9:57PM1.71m
10:20AM1.56m
10:42PM1.70m
11:05AM1.57m
11:27PM1.71m
11:51AM1.60m
00:12AM1.73m
12:37PM1.67m
Low Tide
1:58AM0.43m
2:09PM0.43m
2:44AM0.45m
2:54PM0.45m
3:30AM0.46m
3:39PM0.46m
4:15AM0.46m
4:23PM0.46m
4:58AM0.45m
5:08PM0.43m
5:41AM0.41m
5:53PM0.40m
6:25AM0.36m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:24
7:26
7:28
7:28
7:30
7:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:23
5:22
5:22
5:20
5:19
5:17
11
Temp °C
10
19
20
17
20
23
21
17
19
18
16
14
11
14
15
10
9
10
8
13
15
8
16
19
13
15
18
18
15
15
10
9
11
9
12
13
5
0
2
4
9
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ENE
8
0.3
ENE
8
0.3
ENE
6
0.3
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
8
0.7
ENE
8
0.1
S
15
1.3
ENE
9
1
ENE
10
0.8
ENE
10
0.5
ENE
9
0.5
ENE
9
0.5
ENE
10
0.6
ENE
12
1.7
SSE
17
1.5
SSE
16
1.1
SE
14
0.9
SE
13
0.9
SE
13
Energy kJ
24
13
6
17
5
26
88
62
4
251
197
105
47
43
52
113
1644
1170
529
253
245
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
18
0.2
SSE
15
0.2
SSE
15
0.1
SE
16
0.2
E
10
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
14
0.1
SE
14
0.1
S
17
0.1
SE
16
0.2
SSE
12
0.2
SSE
12
0.4
ENE
12
0.5
SSE
17
0.5
E
12
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.4
ENE
14
0.6
E
13
Energy kJ
78
22
21
9
8
4
4
4
7
6
10
15
15
52
166
70
64
63
69
126
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ENE
5
0.2
ENE
8
0.1
NE
7
0.1
SE
14
0.2
S
17
0.2
ENE
13
0.2
SSE
14
0.4
SE
6
0.4
ENE
11
0.1
SE
18
Energy kJ
5
7
2
8
23
16
19
10
39
12
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
NNW
3
0.3
NNW
2
0.4
NNE
3
0.6
NNE
3
0.3
N
3
1.2
NE
8
1.6
NE
9
0.7
N
4
0.3
N
2
0.6
NW
3
0.4
NW
3
0.9
S
4
0.8
SW
4
0.4
SW
3
Energy kJ
6
1
3
8
1
196
363
14
1
9
4
23
24
4
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
3
2
1
Distance (km)
0
12
30
30
71
71
10
0
76
126
130
96
0
0
0
511
23
153
0
0
31
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
4
2
3
3
3
3
2
4
4
4
4
5
4
3
5
5
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
7
5
6
5
6
8
7
6
5
6
4
4
5
5
5
6
9
7
  • 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 Leithfield Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Leithfield Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Leithfield Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Leithfield Beach 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 (Leithfield Beach) 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 Leithfield Beach 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.

Are you planning a holiday in Canterbury? If you are looking for accommodation near Leithfield Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 41 km (25 miles) away.

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