Rapahoe/Chimney Pots surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Tuesday 16 Sep 2025 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Rapahoe/Chimney Pots surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Rapahoe/Chimney Pots sea temperature is
12.8° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rapahoe/Chimney Pots this week:

The surf forecast for Rapahoe/Chimney Pots over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 17) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rapahoe/Chimney Pots in the next 12 days are 5.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 21) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Wed 17th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 13s
Best Surf12AM (Wed 17th Sep)7ft (2.1m) 13s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sun 21st Sep)18ft (5.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rapahoe/Chimney Pots over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 53mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Sun morning, calm by Mon morning).

Tue
16
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
0
0
!
0
!
!
!
!
!
2
1
1
0
!
!
!
3
4
!
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.3
W
2.1
W
1.4
WSW
3.5
WNW
4
WNW
3.5
WNW
2.5
NW
3
W
3.5
W
3
W
2.2
W
1.5
W
1.3
W
2
N
5.5
NNW
3.5
NW
3
NNW
2.3
W
2
W
2
W
2.5
W
Period(s) (?)1313149111110141312121112711111113131214
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)202017361160218435923057293746913669258913476605486907611455927802574178914042701
Wind
(km/h)
5
WNW
15
N
30
NNW
35
NNW
10
WSW
30
W
20
WSW
20
SW
15
E
10
NW
10
ENE
5
N
15
N
25
NNE
35
NNE
15
WSW
5
S
5
ESE
5
W
5
ESE
10
N
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
oncrosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
oncross-
on
crossoffcross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
on
crosscrosscrosscross-
on
cross-
off
glasscross-
on
offcross
High Tide
/ height (m)
6:20PM
2.28
7:06AM
2.24
7:33PM
2.37
8:11AM
2.34
8:31PM
2.50
9:01AM
2.47
9:18PM
2.62
9:43AM
2.57
9:58PM
2.71
10:20AM
2.65
10:34PM
2.76
10:54AM
2.70
11:08PM
2.77
11:27AM
2.71
Low Tide
/ height (m)
12:42AM
0.64
1:13PM
0.70
1:52AM
0.54
2:16PM
0.58
2:47AM
0.41
3:06PM
0.44
3:32AM
0.29
3:48PM
0.32
4:11AM
0.20
4:25PM
0.24
4:47AM
0.15
5:01PM
0.20
5:20AM
0.15
Tue
16
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Sunrise--6:33--6:31--6:30--6:28--6:26--6:24--6:22
Sunset6:23--6:24--6:27--6:28--6:29--6:30--6:30--
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
heavy rain
mod rain
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
22-623668------196----1
Temp. °C1313141412111191111911111113111012131012
Feels °C (?)12108811575876764578101188
  • 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

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for West Coast South Island

  1. weather stationWind Update Continuing clean conditions at Rapahoe/Chimney Pots (light winds from the N at HokitikaAeroAws 43 km from Rapahoe/Chimney Pots). 2.5m 13s groundswell from the W with a 0.9m 17s long period groundswell from the WSW. 2 swells combining so expect closeout sets.

    Rapahoe/Chimney Pots
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43 km away, 50 min ago

7 km/h
N
0.0
12.8
Air / Water (°C)
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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 Rapahoe/Chimney Pots 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.


Information about the Rapahoe/Chimney Pots Surf forecast

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

Rapahoe is 175 km (109 miles) from the city of Christchurch. If you plan a holiday in West Coast South Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Christchurch. Christchurch has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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