Surf Forecasts:
Scarborough surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, SSE swell with 449 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period with SSE 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 (Aug 19) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Scarborough in the next 16 days are 1.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 0.3m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Scarborough over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, giving you the lowdown for the local surf. It's gonna be a test of patience with a long flat spell ahead.
Right off the bat, don't get your hopes up for the first week and a half. We’re looking at a real drought. The few tiny waves that show are weak and messy, with combined swell energy barely getting into double digits (84 and lower). The water temp is around 50°F, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. For the most part, it's just not worth grabbing your board.
Let's run through it. Tuesday the 18th has some tiny 2ft swell from the E with a short 10-second period, but with a solid 16 mph SW wind, it’s just not gonna be fun. Wednesday the 19th sees a bump in energy from a long-period 15-second swell, hitting 195 on the energy scale, but it's only 1ft from the SSE. It’s clean with light 6 mph WSW winds, but it's just too small to get excited about.
We then go into a major dry spell. From Thursday the 20th all the way through to Tuesday the 2nd of September, the surf is either flat or junk. There are about 13 days where the conditions are just poor, with tiny, weak waves and onshore or cross-shore winds ruining what little shape there is. There are a couple of glassy moments, like Thursday the 27th morning with 3ft from the ESE and zero wind, but that weak 6-second period and low energy (74) means you’d be struggling just to get a slide.
Finally, there’s a glimmer of hope. The standout session for the whole window is looking like Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. The guidance points to Scarborough, which is a beginner-friendly spot that's fairly exposed to the swell. It's inconsistent, so don't expect waves every set. We’re expecting clean 4ft surf from the ESE with a moderate 9-second period. The combined swell energy is up to a solid 315 (moderate wave energy), and with a light 6 mph WSW cross-offshore wind, it should be clean. Keep in mind this is over a week away, so the forecast could shift, but it's the one real window to keep an eye on.
Don't write the whole two weeks off, hang in there.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue morning, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | E 10 | SSE 15 | SE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | E 14 | E 13 | NNW 4 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 49 | 33 | 449 | 89 | 56 | 50 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 24 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 27 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 15 | 16 | 26 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:10PM2.24m | 9:37AM2.30m | 10:01PM2.19m | 10:25AM2.27m | 10:50PM2.15m | 11:12AM2.23m | 11:37PM2.10m | 12:01PM2.19m | 00:24AM2.07m | 12:51PM2.17m | 1:12AM2.05m | 1:40PM2.16m | 2:01AM2.04m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:52PM0.56m | 3:17AM0.54m | 3:46PM0.66m | 4:08AM0.64m | 4:41PM0.74m | 4:58AM0.71m | 5:34PM0.79m | 5:45AM0.76m | 6:25PM0.80m | 6:29AM0.77m | 7:12PM0.80m | 7:14AM0.76m | 7:56PM0.77m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 12 | SE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 6 | SSE 16 | E 11 | ENE 3 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | E 14 | NW 4 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 4 | S 17 | SSE 16 |
| kJ | 49 | 33 | 25 | 81 | 56 | 50 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 26 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | — | ESE 12 | SSE 15 | SE 9 | S 13 | SSE 8 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | NE 3 | SSE 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 16 | SE 10 | NE 8 | NE 6 | S 16 | S 16 | E 14 | E 14 |
| kJ | 35 | — | 14 | 89 | 39 | 13 | 6 | 29 | 26 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 12 | E 12 | SSE 14 | ESE 13 | E 13 | SSE 7 | E 9 | E 10 | NE 4 | SSE 11 | NE 8 | E 9 | S 19 | E 14 | SE 9 | S 9 | E 14 | NE 8 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 12 | 25 | 41 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | S 11 | SSE 15 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | NNE 3 | ENE 3 | — | N 4 | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | N 3 | NNW 3 |
| kJ | 11 | 256 | 449 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 12 | 17 | 27 | — | 4 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 206 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 23 | 23 | 31 | 161 | 38 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 31 |
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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