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Surf Forecasts:

Lighthouse Reef surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 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
16.4° C
 (Which is 2.5°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 cross-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 1AM (Sun 25th Jan)6ft (1.9m) 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 Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the SW by Sat morning).

Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
1
3
2
1
4
4
1
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.5
ESE
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
Period(s) (?)8741413513677810121211141515141211
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)322018818485166192320588301423362319402936170812311134467
Wind
(km/h)
10
NNE
20
E
0
WNW
10
NE
20
E
15
NNE
15
NNE
30
ENE
15
NNE
15
NE
5
SW
15
SSW
25
S
30
SSW
15
WSW
20
WSW
40
SW
10
NW
15
SW
35
SW
20
SSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
on		glasscross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
off		crosscross-
on		crosscross-
on		glasscrosscrosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross
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
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:38AM
0.75
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
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Saturday
24
Sunday
25
Sunrise6:13--6:13--6:16--6:16--6:18--6:20--6:20--
Sunset-9:15--9:15--9:14--9:14--9:13--9:12--9:10-
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
--------28--331------
Temp. °C141414141515161716161716141111131513141513
Feels °C (?)101012101113121112171816944366777
  • 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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Latest Updates

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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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