Surf Forecasts:
Scarborough surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SSE swell with 325 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with ENE swell.
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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Scarborough in the next 16 days are 0.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Scarborough over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day stretch for the Scarborough area is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out period with barely a whisper of proper surf. The models are showing a whole lot of nothing for the first week and a half, with only a few fleeting moments that might get a beginner wet but won’t excite anyone else.
The first glimmer of anything worth mentioning doesn’t show up until Thursday, the 10th of September. Even then, it’s a real struggle. Thursday morning, the wind is blowing clean offshore from the SW at 9 mph, which is a positive, but the swell is tiny – just 2ft from the ENE. The combined energy is a weak 55, so it’s gutless. The water is sitting at 52°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. You’d be on a longboard, scratching for anything, but it’s surfable if you’re desperate.
Then we get a bit of a tease on Saturday the 12th. The morning is glassy with a light NW breeze, and the swell is a tiny 2ft from the SSE. The energy jumps to 180, but it’s a very long-period groundswell at 17 seconds. That kind of period can make a beach break close out straight, but it might offer a few lined-up waves if you’re in the right spot. Still, it’s very ordinary.
The only real standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of Saturday the 12th. That’s your best bet. The glassy conditions and that long-period energy, even though it’s small, give it a slight edge. But honestly, for any intermediate or expert surfer, there’s nothing here worth paddling out for. The rest of the fortnight is filled with onshore winds, tiny swells, or periods where the wind is howling. The 19th of September sees a bump in size to 4ft, but it’s a short-period windswell from the NNE with a strong cross-onshore wind, making it choppy and messy – that’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.
For a beginner, the Thursday morning the 10th or the glassy Saturday morning the 12th might be a chance to catch a few foamies, but don’t expect much. The rest of the run is a write-off. It’s a long blank stretch, and it’s one of those periods where the forecasts will need to change big time to bring any real hope.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri afternoon, min 4°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | SSE 18 | E 8 | SE 5 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 46 | 108 | 168 | 96 | 50 | 21 | 11 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 162 | 325 | 246 | 112 | 95 | 72 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:43PM2.38m | 1:11AM2.28m | 1:38PM2.39m | 2:05AM2.30m | 2:31PM2.40m | 2:57AM2.31m | 3:23PM2.40m | 3:48AM2.32m | 4:15PM2.39m | 4:41AM2.32m | 5:07PM2.36m | 5:37AM2.32m | 6:00PM2.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:03PM0.41m | 7:19AM0.35m | 7:54PM0.36m | 8:14AM0.31m | 8:45PM0.33m | 9:10AM0.29m | 9:38PM0.33m | 10:05AM0.28m | 10:32PM0.34m | 10:58AM0.30m | 11:26PM0.36m | 11:50AM0.36m | 00:17AM0.40m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | S 12 | S 10 | S 8 | S 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 5 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 15 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 108 | 20 | 96 | 50 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 162 | 325 | 246 | 112 | 95 | 72 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | — | ESE 5 | E 9 | ENE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 19 | S 8 | E 16 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | S 18 | S 17 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | NNE 3 | ENE 13 | NE 12 | — |
| kJ | 5 | — | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 16 | 6 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 21 | S 20 | S 12 | S 18 | S 15 | S 20 | S 20 | SSE 18 | E 15 | NE 4 | — | — | ENE 13 | NE 5 | NE 4 | E 12 |
| kJ | 2 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 25 | 116 | 8 | 30 | 33 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 5 | ENE 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | — | NNE 3 | ENE 9 | — | S 22 | SSW 7 | — | — | NNE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 9 | 7 | 12 | 12 | — | 6 | 168 | — | 83 | 111 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 31 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 175 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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