Surf Forecasts:
Scarborough surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 23s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 23s period, SSE swell with 1,532 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 23s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 23s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 23s 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 1.2m 23s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 23s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 23s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 23s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Scarborough over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 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 15 | SSE 23 | ESE 14 | E 13 | E 13 | ESE 12 | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | ESE 11 | NNE 4 | NE 8 | E 11 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 447 | 1532 | 201 | 130 | 142 | 190 | 325 | 309 | 105 | 70 | 30 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | on | on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:50PM2.45m | 8:22AM2.35m | 8:46PM2.36m | 9:16AM2.31m | 9:41PM2.29m | 10:09AM2.28m | 10:34PM2.23m | 11:00AM2.26m | 11:24PM2.18m | 11:52AM2.24m | 00:13AM2.14m | 12:42PM2.23m | 1:02AM2.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:32PM0.22m | 2:06AM0.31m | 2:25PM0.33m | 2:59AM0.39m | 3:20PM0.47m | 3:53AM0.47m | 4:17PM0.60m | 4:46AM0.55m | 5:15PM0.70m | 5:37AM0.63m | 6:12PM0.76m | 6:24AM0.69m | 7:05PM0.79m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — |
 | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | E 11 | — | SE 12 | E 12 | NE 8 | ENE 4 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 447 | 346 | 201 | 130 | 125 | 77 | 325 | 309 | 105 | 70 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 23 | SSE 23 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 12 | E 11 | SE 10 | ENE 4 | NE 7 | SE 3 |
| kJ | 422 | 401 | 110 | 86 | 142 | 134 | 49 | 49 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 23 | SSE 22 | SSE 21 | — | ESE 12 | — | — | SSE 9 | — | ESE 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 4 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 12 | ENE 4 | E 11 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | — | 1532 | 46 | 43 | — | 190 | — | — | 7 | — | 25 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | N 3 | — | SW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 14 | 2 | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 31 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 89 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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