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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 pm Wednesday 20 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
12.6° C
(Which is 1.7°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 Monday (May 25) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Scarborough in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Friday (May 22) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Mon 25th May) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Wed 27th May) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Wed 27th May) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
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 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Wed night, calm by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | Saturday 23 | Sunday 24 | Monday 25 | Tuesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
E 9 | NE 8 | NNE 4 | NNE 3 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 13 | SE 16 | SSE 16 | NE 12 | SSE 19 | SSE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 8 | |
7 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 87 | 26 | 75 | 142 | 42 | 44 | 40 | 58 | 90 | 33 | 74 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | off | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | |
High Tide | 7:42PM2.64m | 8:16AM2.43m | 8:39PM2.55m | 9:12AM2.39m | 9:36PM2.45m | 10:05AM2.34m | 10:34PM2.35m | 10:58AM2.27m | 11:28PM2.27m | 11:51AM2.21m | 00:20AM2.22m | 12:45PM2.18m | 1:11AM2.18m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:03AM0.32m | 2:20PM0.29m | 2:59AM0.34m | 3:17PM0.32m | 3:55AM0.39m | 4:13PM0.38m | 4:50AM0.44m | 5:08PM0.46m | 5:45AM0.49m | 6:03PM0.54m | 6:36AM0.53m | 7:00PM0.62m | 7:24AM0.57m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:47 |
 | 5:08 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:04 | — | 5:04 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
Temp °C | 10 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 6 | SE 5 | — | E 11 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | SSE 18 | SSE 19 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 10 | SSE 11 | NE 4 | SSE 16 |
 kJ | 5 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 60 | 142 | 25 | 32 | 26 | 58 | 12 | 4 | 27 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 13 | E 13 | — | ENE 5 | E 8 | S 13 | S 13 | E 6 | E 11 | NE 5 | SSE 16 | NE 12 | SSE 20 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SE 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 75 | 75 | 42 | 35 | 35 | 37 | 90 | 33 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | S 11 | E 8 | E 12 | NE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | SE 11 | S 12 | E 13 | SE 11 | E 14 | NE 10 | S 20 | SSE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | S 16 | SSW 12 | SE 11 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 47 | 268 | 38 | 44 | 40 | 5 | 82 | 4 | 32 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 3 | S 5 | NE 6 | NE 4 | — | — | — | SE 16 | E 3 | — | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | NE 8 |
| kJ | — | 11 | 16 | 13 | 27 | 8 | 10 | — | — | — | 87 | 1 | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 74 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 38 | 245 | 150 | 23 | 31 | 31 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
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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