
Surf Forecasts:
Lighthouse Reef surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 17s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 17s period, SE swell with 1,207 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lighthouse Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lighthouse Reef in the next 16 days are 1.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 16s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the line for Lighthouse Reef.
Alright, so the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag at Lighthouse Reef. There’s some surf on offer, but you’ve gotta be picky. The water temp is sittin’ at about 49°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothin’ freaky goin’ on there.
The first real chance to get wet is on Wednesday, August 12th. We’ve got a 5ft ENE swell rollin’ in, with a period of 7 seconds. It’s a bit short-period, so it’ll be a bit weak and lumpy, but the mornin’ is the pick. The wind is light and comin’ from the north, makin’ it a clean cross-off breeze. The wave energy is weak (351), so don’t expect any monsters. It’s a decent enough start, but nothin’ to write home about. The afternoon sees the swell bump up a touch to 6ft, but the wind swings onshore, and it’s a bit of a mess with a marginal tide call.
Thursday, August 13th, is a drop-off. The swell drops to 3ft from the east, and while the mornin’ has a light cross-off breeze, the conditions are just ordinary. The afternoon is a write-off with onshore wind.
Friday, August 14th, is a tiny day. We’re lookin’ at 2ft of easterly swell. The mornin’ is the standout here, with glassy conditions and a slight air. It’s surfable, but just barely. The afternoon gets a cross-on wind and blows out.
Saturday, August 15th, is a big no-go. The wind is howlin’ from the south at 12-15 mph, makin’ it a choppy, onshore mess. The swell is small and weak, with a high tide of 4ft in the afternoon, but it’s just not worth the paddle.
Sunday, August 16th, through Tuesday, August 18th, is a flat spell. Swell is a measly 0.7ft to 1ft. The wind is light and offshore on a few mornings, but the waves are just too small to do anything with. It’s a classic summer lull.
Now, here’s the one that has my attention. Wednesday, August 19th, is the real standout. The mornin’ shows a 4ft SE groundswell, but the period is a very long 15 seconds. That’s proper energy. The combined energy is strong (502). The wind is glassy, dead calm, makin’ for perfect conditions. This is a long-period swell, so at a beach-and-reef spot like Lighthouse Reef, it might break a bit straight, but the power and the clean conditions should still offer some fun, lined-up waves. This is the best bet in the whole forecast.
After that, the rest of the week is small again. Thursday, August 20th, has 3ft SE swell with a clean mornin’, but just ordinary. Friday, August 21st, has a 2ft SE swell with a very long 18-second period and offshore wind, so it’s clean but tiny. The wave energy is moderate (215), but it’s just not enough size.
From Saturday, August 22nd, all the way through to Thursday, August 27th, it’s the same story. Tiny, weak swells, mostly under 2ft, with a few days of clean, glassy conditions, but nothin’ to ride. The wind is light on some days, but the swell is just too small. It’s a long stretch of flatness.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is a slow burn, with a few ordinary mornings. The only real standout is Wednesday mornin’, August 19th, with that long-period groundswell and glassy conditions. That’s the session to circle on the calendar. For the rest, you’re mostly starin’ at flat water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Sun afternoon, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Sat morning, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 14 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 11 | SE 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
254 | 385 | 184 | 129 | 95 | 63 | 41 | 42 | 29 | 24 | 81 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 46 | 52 | 31 | 20 | 24 | 128 | 1207 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | on | off |
High Tide | 2:52PM2.50m | 2:52AM2.52m | 3:52PM2.50m | 3:49AM2.46m | 4:45PM2.44m | 4:53AM2.38m | 5:34PM2.31m | 5:53AM2.30m | 6:23PM2.16m | 6:48AM2.22m | 7:14PM2.03m | 7:41AM2.14m | 8:11PM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:44PM0.56m | 9:16AM0.43m | 9:38PM0.58m | 10:12AM0.40m | 10:34PM0.59m | 11:11AM0.42m | 11:27PM0.59m | 12:08PM0.48m | 00:17AM0.60m | 12:59PM0.56m | 1:07AM0.64m | 1:47PM0.64m | 2:01AM0.70m | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 16 |
Feels °C | 6 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 11 | SE 17 |
93 | 137 | 184 | 129 | 95 | 63 | 41 | 42 | 29 | 24 | 17 | 24 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 31 | 15 | 24 | 128 | 1207 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | E 15 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 4 | ESE 13 | E 9 | E 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 14 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | SSE 11 | SSE 15 | E 9 |
4 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 28 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 46 | 52 | 21 | 20 | 11 | 87 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 17 | SE 16 | S 15 | S 16 | ESE 14 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 13 | E 8 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | E 10 |
— | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 24 | 5 | 24 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 6 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | S 6 | — | — | S 8 | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — |
254 | 385 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 81 | 113 | — | — | 138 | — | — | — | — | 533 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 222 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 0 | 155 | 151 | 0 | 87 | 113 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lighthouse Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lighthouse Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lighthouse Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lighthouse Reef 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 (Lighthouse Reef) 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 Lighthouse Reef 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.
Lighthouse Reef is 4 km (2 miles) from the city of Timaru. If you plan a holiday in Canterbury, look for hotels and other accommodation in Timaru. Timaru has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











