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Surf Forecasts:

Lighthouse Reef surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Monday 19 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Lighthouse Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Lighthouse Reef sea temperature is
16.3° C
 (Which is 2.4°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lighthouse Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s 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 12 days are 1.9m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jan 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.5m 15s period and expected on Saturday (Jan 24) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 21st Jan)2ft (0.6m) 5s
Best Surf 7PM (Sat 24th Jan)5.5ft (1.7m) 15s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sun 25th Jan)6ft (1.9m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SSW by Fri afternoon).

Mon
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
2
0
0
2
1
3
4
2
3
2
1
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.4
ESE
0.7
E
0.1
SE
0.2
SSE
1
ENE
0.4
SE
1
E
1.5
ENE
1.7
E
2.1
E
1.3
E
1.2
E
1.1
E
1.1
SSE
1
SSE
1.5
SSE
1.9
SE
1.8
SE
1.9
SSE
1.4
SE
0.9
SE
Period(s) (?)7414135136778101212111415151412119
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)2018818485166192320588301423362319402936170812311134467135
Wind
(km/h)
20
E
0
WSW
10
ENE
20
E
15
NNE
15
NNE
30
ENE
15
NE
5
SE
10
SSW
0
WSW
25
S
45
SSW
20
WSW
25
SW
20
WSW
20
WNW
35
SW
25
SW
10
NW
0
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		glasscross-
on		cross-
on		crosscrosscross-
on		crossglasscrossglasscrosscrosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		offcross-
off		cross-
off		offglass
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:09PM
2.12
4:56AM
2.21
4:52PM
2.08
5:37AM
2.21
5:43PM
2.04
6:20AM
2.18
6:40PM
2.03
7:06AM
2.13
7:36PM
2.03
7:54AM
2.07
8:31PM
2.04
8:44AM
2.03
9:27PM
2.06
9:36AM
2.02
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:37PM
0.69
11:20AM
0.71
11:17PM
0.67
12:02PM
0.67
12:05AM
0.64
12:46PM
0.64
12:59AM
0.62
1:30PM
0.63
1:53AM
0.62
2:17PM
0.63
2:43AM
0.67
3:07PM
0.62
3:33AM
0.74
Mon
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Sunrise--6:13--6:16--6:16--6:18--6:20--6:20--6:22
Sunset9:15--9:15--9:14--9:14--9:13--9:12--9:10--
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
-------8151-242-310----
Temp. °C14141415151518161618161511912111114161416
Feels °C (?)101210121312131216181610245647111113
  • 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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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Lighthouse Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Lighthouse Reef at:
surf-forecast.com

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 12 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.

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