Riversdale surf break

Riversdale surfForecast / Wairarapa / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Thursday 14 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Riversdale surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Riversdale sea temperature is
14.1° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Riversdale this week:

The surf forecast for Riversdale over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 15) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Riversdale in the next 16 days are 1.9m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 15) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Fri 15th May)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Best Surf 6AM (Fri 15th May)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Fri 15th May)6ft (1.9m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riversdale over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
2
4
3
3
2
2
1
0
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSW
12
2
S
11
1.7
S
9
1.9
S
15
1.9
S
14
1.7
S
13
1.5
S
12
1.4
S
11
1.3
S
11
1.1
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
10
1.1
SSE
10
0.9
SSE
9
0.9
SSE
9
0.8
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
9
0.7
SSE
9
0.5
S
8
0.4
SSE
9
0.3
SSE
9
0.2
ESE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2081
890
471
1675
1484
971
636
493
401
206
314
235
132
129
125
94
82
33
28
16
17
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
SSW
10
SW
15
S
15
SSW
15
SSW
15
SSW
10
S
10
SSE
15
SE
5
S
5
NNE
5
E
5
NW
5
NNW
15
NE
10
NNW
5
NW
5
N
10
WNW
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
High Tide
2:37PM1.39m
3:02AM1.42m
3:31PM1.48m
3:57AM1.46m
4:27PM1.56m
4:54AM1.49m
5:23PM1.63m
5:51AM1.51m
6:19PM1.68m
6:48AM1.53m
7:16PM1.71m
7:46AM1.52m
8:14PM1.71m
Low Tide
8:49PM0.17m
9:15AM0.12m
9:46PM0.11m
10:09AM0.08m
10:45PM0.06m
11:05AM0.04m
11:44PM0.02m
12:01PM0.01m
00:43AM-0.01m
12:59PM-0.00m
1:42AM-0.02m
1:57PM-0.01m
2:40AM-0.02m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:15
7:16
7:16
7:18
7:18
7:18
7:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:06
5:05
5:04
5:04
5:02
Temp °C
11
11
10
11
11
9
9
10
11
12
11
10
12
13
12
14
14
12
13
15
10
7
7
7
9
8
7
6
7
8
9
8
8
10
11
11
12
11
10
11
14
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
S
12
0.4
ENE
9
1.7
S
9
1.9
S
15
1.9
S
14
1.7
S
13
1.5
S
12
1.4
S
11
1.3
S
11
1.1
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
10
1.1
SSE
10
0.9
SSE
9
0.9
SSE
9
0.8
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
9
0.7
SSE
9
0.5
S
8
0.4
ENE
5
0.4
ENE
5
0.4
ENE
5
Energy kJ
1369
28
471
1675
1484
971
636
493
401
206
314
235
132
129
125
94
82
33
8
9
10
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ENE
9
0.2
SSE
13
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.6
SSW
11
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
5
0.4
SSE
9
0.3
SSE
9
0.2
ESE
13
Energy kJ
29
17
28
28
31
34
62
61
58
93
34
83
30
17
17
20
19
7
28
16
17
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
SSE
14
0.1
SE
13
0.1
SE
12
0.1
S
24
0.1
S
22
0.1
S
19
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
ENE
10
0.3
SSW
14
0.2
SSW
13
0.2
SSW
12
0.1
SE
13
0.2
SSE
12
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
E
8
Energy kJ
18
6
6
11
9
7
35
80
33
38
17
15
7
14
17
16
8
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSW
12
2
S
11
0.3
N
3
Energy kJ
2081
890
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
26
26
26
0
26
26
91
180
26
26
26
0
0
64
0
0
64
0
0
88
88
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
4
3
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
4
5
4
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
7
4
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
  • 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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Information about the Riversdale Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Riversdale provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Riversdale can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Riversdale 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 (Riversdale) 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 Riversdale 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.

Riversdale is 38 km (24 miles) from Masterton. If you plan a holiday in The Wairarapa, look for hotels and other accommodation in Masterton. Masterton has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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