Smoothwater Bay surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Wednesday 06 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Smoothwater Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Smoothwater Bay sea temperature is
15.7° C
(Which is 1.5°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Smoothwater Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Smoothwater Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 08) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Smoothwater Bay in the next 16 days are 6.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 10) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 8th May)7ft (2.2m) 9s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 9th May)15ft (4.5m) 14s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sun 10th May)20ft (6.0m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Smoothwater Bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 187mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, near gales from the WSW by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds.

Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tuesday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
1
0
3
4
4
1
0
4
5
!
!
0
!
7
7
4
4
4
4
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
15
1.1
SW
15
2.3
NNE
7
3.5
N
9
2.2
NNW
9
2.2
N
9
1.8
N
9
3.5
NNE
8
4
N
11
3.5
W
11
3.5
WSW
15
4.5
WSW
14
4.5
WSW
14
6
WSW
12
5.5
WSW
13
4
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
14
3
WSW
14
2.2
WSW
13
2.1
WSW
13
2.1
WSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
365
499
529
1755
737
770
493
1747
3998
3368
5337
7416
7173
11001
10162
6444
4574
2789
1708
1599
1515
Wind (km/h)
20
ENE
15
E
30
ENE
30
NE
15
ENE
15
ENE
15
ESE
30
ENE
45
NW
25
WSW
30
SW
15
SSW
0
NE
35
WSW
25
SW
10
S
5
WSW
10
SSE
10
SSE
5
N
10
SE
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
off
cross
off
off
glassy
off
High Tide
1:59PM1.77m
2:13AM1.76m
2:46PM1.69m
3:02AM1.69m
3:40PM1.62m
4:01AM1.63m
4:42PM1.58m
5:07AM1.60m
5:47PM1.58m
6:13AM1.63m
6:49PM1.63m
7:12AM1.71m
7:45PM1.71m
Low Tide
8:08PM0.62m
8:29AM0.64m
8:54PM0.67m
9:23AM0.68m
9:48PM0.71m
10:26AM0.70m
10:52PM0.71m
11:32AM0.67m
11:58PM0.68m
12:34PM0.60m
1:00AM0.61m
1:30PM0.51m
1:55AM0.52m
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
mod rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:43
7:43
7:45
7:46
7:47
7:48
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:39
5:38
5:37
5:36
5:35
5:34
5:32
1
13
51
47
5
3
2
42
23
3
7
1
Temp °C
12
12
14
15
15
14
15
15
13
10
11
9
12
12
9
9
10
10
11
12
11
8
9
9
11
14
12
12
10
5
2
4
6
8
4
1
5
7
6
9
10
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
15
1.1
SW
15
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
14
2.2
NNW
9
2.2
N
9
1.8
N
9
1.3
WSW
13
4
N
11
2.5
N
11
1.8
NNW
10
1.1
NNW
9
0.2
N
12
0.2
N
12
4
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
14
3
WSW
14
2.2
WSW
13
2.1
WSW
13
2.1
WSW
14
Energy kJ
365
499
529
390
737
770
493
538
3998
1848
717
197
12
12
6444
2826
2789
1708
1599
1515
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
12
0.4
WNW
10
0.9
WNW
9
0.1
N
15
1.6
NE
8
1
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
0.3
WNW
8
1.1
WSW
16
1.8
WSW
15
0.8
NNE
11
1
NNW
9
0.2
N
12
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.4
SW
24
Energy kJ
11
31
136
4
298
373
486
13
667
1393
156
184
12
3
3
3
2
2
148
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
16
0.2
N
12
0.1
SW
22
1
SW
14
0.4
WNW
7
0.5
W
9
0.4
NNE
9
0.1
N
15
0.1
N
13
0.1
N
12
Energy kJ
5
11
18
379
20
38
27
4
3
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
NNE
6
2.2
NNE
7
2.3
NNE
7
3.5
N
9
3.5
NNE
8
2
W
13
3.5
W
11
3.5
WSW
15
4.5
WSW
14
4.5
WSW
14
6
WSW
12
5.5
WSW
13
3.5
WSW
14
Energy kJ
289
436
465
1755
1747
1349
3368
5337
7416
7173
11001
10162
4574
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
1
4
4
4
1
4
2
2
5
1
1
1
7
4
4
4
4
4
Distance (km)
151
0
259
228
36
0
0
219
228
377
250
36
217
217
850
0
36
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
4
4
4
5
6
7
4
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
2
3
4
4
4
3
6
2
4
5
6
3
3
9
8
9
6
7
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
6
7
5
5
6
7
7
6
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
7
9
9
9
9
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Smoothwater Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Smoothwater Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Smoothwater Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Smoothwater Bay 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 (Smoothwater Bay) 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 Smoothwater Bay 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 West Coast South Island? If you are looking for accommodation near Smoothwater Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in West Coast South Island, consider staying in Okuru which is 28 km (17 miles) away.

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