Surf Forecasts:
Scarborough surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period, ESE swell with 99 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Scarborough in the next 16 days are 0.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Scarborough over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first week and a half is pretty grim. From Thursday the 20th of August all the way through to Sunday the 30th of August, the surf is just not cooperating. We’re looking at flat, weak waves, mostly under 2 ft, with a mix of onshore and cross-shore breezes. The combined swell energy is mostly in the weak range, around 20 to 60 (weak energy), and the water temp is sitting at 50°F with a positive anomaly of 1°F, so about average for this time of year. Honestly, it’s a write-off for paddle surfing. With that swell size and strong cross-shore winds, this setup might be more interesting for kite surfing than a traditional surf session.
Now, there’s a long gap of nothing good until Monday the 31st of August. Things start to flicker a little then. The first real standout comes on Wednesday the 2nd of September. Scarborough is the break to watch. The morning of the 2nd sees a clean 3 ft swell from the southeast, with a period of 13 seconds, and a light offshore wind from the west. The combined energy is moderate (295). By the afternoon, it turns glassy, with the same 3 ft, 13-second swell from the southeast, and energy at 281 (moderate). This is a genuine window of clean, fun surf.
Thursday the 3rd of September keeps the party going. Both morning and afternoon offer 3 ft swell from the southeast, 14-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is strong – 346 and 342 (moderate). The offshore wind direction (WNW) is a major positive, giving us clean, lined-up waves. Scarborough is a beginner-friendly break, but it’s inconsistent, and crowds are possible. With the swell direction coming from the southeast, which is not the optimum direction (ENE) for this spot, it’s still the best we’ve got.
The swell drops off after that, fading back to weak stuff by Friday the 4th of September. So, if you’re planning ahead, circle Wednesday and Thursday, 2nd and 3rd of September. That’s our window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the NW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the NW by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | SSE 17 | SE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NE 9 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | E 14 | E 14 | NNW 4 | E 14 | ESE 14 | E 13 | E 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 26 | 29 | 69 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 32 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 45 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 28 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 2:27PM2.16m | 2:47AM2.06m | 3:12PM2.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:01AM0.72m | 8:39PM0.73m | 8:50AM0.66m | 9:23PM0.67m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 7 | SE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | SSE 10 | E 14 | NE 9 | NE 6 | NNW 3 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | ESE 14 | E 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | 26 | 12 | 69 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 45 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 15 | SE 10 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | SSE 12 | SE 10 | S 16 | S 16 | NE 4 | NE 5 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 9 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SSE 17 | SE 12 | E 13 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | S 16 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | E 8 | — | S 16 | S 16 | S 10 | S 9 | S 14 | E 8 | S 13 |
| kJ | 5 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | N 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NNW 4 | WNW 3 | NW 4 | — | — | NNE 4 | N 3 | NNW 4 | N 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 8 | 17 | 32 | 11 | 3 | 8 | — | — | 3 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 28 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 23 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 23 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 161 | 161 | 23 | 2 | 23 | 31 | 133 | 38 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 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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