Surf Forecasts:
Riversdale surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, S swell with 7,878 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period with S 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riversdale in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riversdale over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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 10 | S 11 | S 14 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 8 | S 12 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | ESE 13 | SSW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3562 | 5728 | 7878 | 3195 | 2636 | 1661 | 298 | 628 | 1209 | 683 | 404 | 240 | 149 | 98 | 33 | 33 | 135 | 946 | 325 | 604 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:45PM1.41m | 10:12AM1.41m | 10:36PM1.35m | 11:02AM1.38m | 11:25PM1.31m | 11:50AM1.36m | 00:13AM1.27m | 12:38PM1.35m | 1:00AM1.25m | 1:24PM1.34m | 1:46AM1.24m | 2:11PM1.35m | 2:32AM1.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:02AM0.16m | 4:29PM0.20m | 4:49AM0.22m | 5:19PM0.25m | 5:36AM0.26m | 6:08PM0.29m | 6:21AM0.30m | 6:55PM0.31m | 7:07AM0.31m | 7:42PM0.32m | 7:52AM0.31m | 8:28PM0.32m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — |
mm | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | -1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | — | S 11 | S 15 | S 14 | S 8 | S 8 | S 12 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 98 | — | 3744 | 3195 | 1706 | 289 | 298 | 628 | 1209 | 683 | 404 | 240 | 149 | 98 | 30 | 15 | 135 | 946 | 325 | 604 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | — | SE 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 16 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 |
| kJ | 33 | — | 29 | 249 | 273 | 339 | 147 | 417 | 98 | 63 | 31 | 9 | 16 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 7 | — | SE 12 | E 16 | ESE 10 | NE 5 | S 19 | NE 6 | SW 18 | — | SE 14 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | 59 | 41 | 4 | — | 6 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 13 | — | 8 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | S 11 | S 14 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | — | — | — | N 3 | NNE 5 | WNW 3 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | — | W 3 | WNW 3 | — |
| kJ | 3562 | 5728 | 7878 | 239 | 2636 | 1661 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 10 | — | 5 | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 283 | 283 | 106 | 172 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 159 | 91 | 159 | 168 | 4 | 222 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Riversdale 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 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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