
Surf Forecasts:
Scarborough surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, ESE swell with 789 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period with E 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Scarborough in the next 16 days are 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 16th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Scarborough over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.
First up, we’ve got Scarborough. It’s a beginner spot that’s inconsistent and sometimes gets crowded. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.
The start of this 16-day run is a bit of a write-off. From Sunday the 12th right through to Wednesday the 15th, it’s just tiny, weak waves with poor conditions. You’re looking at 0.6ft to 2ft of mostly short-period, weak energy swell. Not worth paddling out for.
Thursday the 16th afternoon finally shows a glimmer – a 1ft swell with a 15-second period, glassy conditions, and the energy picks up. It’s surfable, but still very ordinary.
Now, Friday the 17th is where things start to get interesting. The morning brings a 3ft swell from the east with a very long 16-second period, and it’s glassy. The energy is solid. The afternoon is even better: 3ft, still 16 seconds, clean cross-off wind. This is the first real standout of the outlook. The long period will make the waves shapely, but at a beach break like Scarborough, it might be a bit straight. Still, for the size, it’s the best we’ve seen.
Saturday the 18th has a bit more size (3ft to 3ft) and strong offshore wind, but it’s gusty at 19 to 22 mph, and the energy is high. The conditions are described as “fresh offshore and clean,” but the wind is strong. It’s a tricky call – might be more for the experienced.
We then hit a quiet patch from Sunday the 19th to Tuesday the 21st. The swell drops back to 1ft to 3ft, with energy in the moderate range, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it poor. Not worth it.
Then, Wednesday the 22nd morning is a big standout. The swell jumps to 6ft from the east, with a 12-second period, and it’s clean with a gentle offshore wind. The energy is high. This is “very good surf conditions” – the best call in the whole run. The size is pushing into intermediate territory, but it’s clean and powerful.
Thursday the 23rd morning is also excellent: 6ft from the ENE, 13 seconds, clean cross-off wind, and high energy. Again, very good.
Friday the 24th morning is a monster – 16ft from the ENE with a 14-second period and massive energy. This is way too big for Scarborough. It’s a warning: “the swell is predicted to be too big for this break.” Only for experts, and even then, it’s a beast. The afternoon settles to 6ft, glassy, and very good.
Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th mornings are both solid: 6ft and 5ft, clean or glassy, with high energy. Very good, consistent waves.
Monday the 27th morning is a letdown – the wind is strong and cross-onshore, ruining the 5ft swell.
So, the true standouts are Friday the 17th for the first clean, long-period swell, and Wednesday the 22nd through Saturday the 25th for the consistent, bigger, clean surf. The 22nd morning is probably the pick of the whole outlook.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the N by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 6°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Sat 18 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | E 14 | E 13 | E 15 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
62 | 41 | 26 | 51 | 17 | 25 | 39 | 25 | 27 | 47 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 28 | 72 | 205 | 322 | 391 | 395 | 365 | 276 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | off | off |
High Tide | 1:46AM2.30m | 2:14PM2.51m | 2:46AM2.37m | 3:12PM2.58m | 3:43AM2.42m | 4:09PM2.63m | 4:38AM2.46m | 5:05PM2.63m | 5:33AM2.46m | 6:00PM2.60m | 6:29AM2.43m | 6:54PM2.53m | 7:25AM2.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:54AM0.38m | 8:35PM0.41m | 8:52AM0.32m | 9:32PM0.32m | 9:51AM0.25m | 10:29PM0.26m | 10:50AM0.19m | 11:25PM0.22m | 11:46AM0.15m | 00:21AM0.23m | 12:39PM0.15m | 1:14AM0.26m | 1:32PM0.22m | ||||||||
— | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:54 | — | |
— | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Feels °C | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 0 | -2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | E 9 | NE 8 | ENE 6 | E 10 | E 13 | N 4 | NE 6 | ESE 4 | E 13 | E 15 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 |
62 | 41 | 26 | 14 | 17 | 6 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 28 | 72 | 205 | 322 | 391 | 395 | 365 | 276 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 16 | S 11 | E 9 | E 9 | S 13 | E 9 | S 8 | — | E 10 | NE 4 | E 12 | ENE 8 | ESE 4 | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | SSE 23 | SSE 19 | — |
4 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 3 | — | 9 | 6 | 4 | 53 | 203 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 10 | S 13 | — | S 22 | S 20 | S 8 | S 16 | NE 5 | S 19 | E 14 | E 16 | S 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 23 | SE 6 | — |
— | 46 | 4 | 2 | 4 | — | 9 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 43 | 18 | 67 | 67 | 380 | 15 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NE 5 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | — | — | E 5 | S 7 | SE 16 |
— | — | — | 51 | 2 | 25 | 39 | 25 | 27 | 47 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 19 | — | — | 4 | 192 | 274 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 1 | 7 | 234 | 64 | 23 | 33 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 23 | 180 |
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.











