8 Dec 2025: Tsunami Alert Issued for NE Japan

A magnitude-7.6 earthquake off the coast of Aomori Prefecture has triggered a tsunami warning. Early reports of 40cm waves, tsunamis up to 3m possible latest updates

Punakaiki surf break

Punakaiki surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Tuesday 09 Dec 2025 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Punakaiki surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Punakaiki sea temperature is
16.4° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Punakaiki this week:

The surf forecast for Punakaiki over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Dec 09) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Punakaiki in the next 12 days are 2.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Dec 16) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Monday (Dec 15) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Tue 9th Dec)3.5ft (1.0m) 12s
Best Surf 1AM (Sat 13th Dec)6ft (1.8m) 10s
Most Powerful 7PM (Tue 16th Dec)7ft (2.1m) 16s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
09
Wednesday
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
1
3
0
2
2
0
0
0
2
4
3
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.2
W
1.1
W
1
W
1.5
W
1.5
W
1.5
W
1.8
W
2
W
1.6
W
2
W
2.2
W
1.8
W
1.5
W
1.3
W
1.1
W
0.9
WSW
0.8
WSW
0.6
WSW
0.5
WSW
1.3
WNW
2.5
NW
Period(s) (?)121213131312141313810101010111111111478
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)43936532475971364713171440933548986627450319313202158931201491004
Wind
(km/h)
5
W
5
W
5
S
5
SSW
15
SW
10
S
15
SW
25
SW
25
SW
20
SW
10
W
10
NE
10
N
10
WNW
5
ESE
10
NNW
10
NW
15
ENE
25
NNE
35
N
30
NNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassglasscross-
on
glassoncrossononcross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
offcross-
off
cross-
on
glasscrosscross-
on
offcross-
off
cross-
off
cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:53PM
2.76
3:26AM
2.53
3:48PM
2.61
4:23AM
2.39
4:46PM
2.46
5:22AM
2.28
5:46PM
2.34
6:22AM
2.22
6:46PM
2.26
7:21AM
2.21
7:43PM
2.23
8:14AM
2.23
8:37PM
2.25
Low Tide
/ height (m)
9:14PM
0.24
9:34AM
0.42
10:10PM
0.39
10:30AM
0.54
11:07PM
0.52
11:29AM
0.65
12:05AM
0.61
12:30PM
0.72
1:02AM
0.67
1:29PM
0.74
1:57AM
0.69
2:24PM
0.72
2:48AM
0.67
Tuesday
09
Wednesday
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Sunrise5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52--5:52--
Sunset-9:00--9:01--9:01--9:02--9:04--9:05--9:06-
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
Rain (mm)
--------1--------13455
Temp. °C181816171815161613141413161614171715171717
Feels °C (?)1717161615131411991111131313151512141212
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Punakaiki:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Punakaiki 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.


false

Information about the Punakaiki Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Punakaiki provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Punakaiki can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Punakaiki 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 (Punakaiki) 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 Punakaiki 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.

Punakaiki is 186 km (116 miles) from the city of Nelson. If you plan a holiday in West Coast South Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Nelson. Nelson has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest