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Scarborough Surf Forecast
/ Canterbury (28 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Scarborough surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Tuesday 12 May 2026 NZSTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Scarborough surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Scarborough sea temperature is
13.8° C
(Which is 2.5°C warmer than normal for this time of year)Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Scarborough this week:
The surf forecast for Scarborough over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 12) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Scarborough in the next 16 days are 0.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 13) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 14s period and expected on Wednesday (May 13) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Tue 12th May) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Tue 12th May) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 13th May) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Scarborough over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 12 | Wednesday 13 | Thursday 14 | Friday 15 | Saturday 16 | Sunday 17 | Monday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
E 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SE 12 | SE 10 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 4 | E 10 | NE 4 | |
61 | 100 | 217 | 217 | 158 | 67 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 36 | 17 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 53 | 80 | 12 | 7 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
off | off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | glassy | on | glassy | |
High Tide | 12:23PM2.09m | 00:46AM2.16m | 1:12PM2.18m | 1:35AM2.23m | 2:03PM2.30m | 2:26AM2.31m | 2:54PM2.41m | 3:22AM2.38m | 3:50PM2.52m | 4:19AM2.42m | 4:48PM2.61m | 5:18AM2.45m | 5:47PM2.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:29PM0.63m | 7:01AM0.53m | 7:22PM0.59m | 7:48AM0.48m | 8:18PM0.53m | 8:38AM0.43m | 9:13PM0.47m | 9:33AM0.39m | 10:10PM0.41m | 10:30AM0.36m | 11:07PM0.37m | 11:28AM0.32m | 00:07AM0.33m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:31 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — |
 | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:10 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 12 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
8 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 12 | SE 10 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | SE 9 | SE 8 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 4 |
 kJ | 61 | 100 | 217 | 217 | 158 | 67 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 36 | 17 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | E 10 | E 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 16 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
| kJ | 24 | 38 | 38 | 35 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 33 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | E 14 | S 26 | S 22 | E 12 | SSE 17 | S 16 | SE 13 | S 14 | E 9 | E 9 | — | S 16 | S 14 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | SE 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 33 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | — | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 43 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 3 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 4127 | 1 | — | — | — | 498 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 53 | 80 | 12 | 6 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 2 | 27 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 21 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Scarborough 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 Scarborough Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Scarborough provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Scarborough can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Scarborough 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 (Scarborough) 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 Scarborough 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Canterbury? If you are looking for accommodation near Scarborough, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 9 km (6 miles) away.
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