
Surf Forecasts:
Riversdale surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,225 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with SSW swell.
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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riversdale in the next 16 days are 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riversdale over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Tue morning, light winds from the WSW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
90 | 46 | 115 | 123 | 273 | 188 | 55 | 212 | 447 | 310 | 305 | 373 | 647 | 381 | 239 | 115 | 37 | 170 | 188 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | off | off | cross |
High Tide | 10:54PM1.40m | 11:22AM1.51m | 11:49PM1.40m | 12:19PM1.54m | 00:46AM1.41m | 1:16PM1.56m | 1:44AM1.42m | 2:14PM1.57m | 2:41AM1.43m | 3:10PM1.57m | 3:37AM1.44m | 4:06PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:06AM0.14m | 5:43PM0.14m | 6:00AM0.13m | 6:40PM0.13m | 6:56AM0.11m | 7:37PM0.11m | 7:53AM0.09m | 8:34PM0.10m | 8:50AM0.07m | 9:31PM0.08m | 9:47AM0.06m | 10:26PM0.07m | |||||||
— | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 18 |
Temp °C | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 8 |
Feels °C | 5 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | -1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 |
90 | 46 | 115 | 123 | 273 | 188 | 42 | 48 | 47 | 310 | 131 | 57 | 17 | 381 | 239 | 115 | 37 | 28 | 110 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SSW 17 | NE 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | NE 6 | NE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | NE 9 | NE 8 | SSW 17 | SE 6 |
22 | 21 | 67 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 55 | 4 | 47 | 107 | 198 | 6 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 170 | 59 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | S 10 | NE 10 | NE 11 | SE 9 | — | NE 10 | NE 10 | — | NE 6 | NE 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 21 | NE 9 | S 19 | SSW 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 15 |
1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 31 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 188 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNE 5 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | NW 2 | SSW 11 | SSW 8 | S 8 | — | — | NNE 2 | NW 2 | NW 4 | — |
21 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 19 | 13 | 4 | 212 | 447 | 1 | 305 | 373 | 647 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 13 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 277 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 4 | 0 | 91 | 91 | 0 | 91 | 168 | 9 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 172 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
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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.










