Smoothwater Bay surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Thursday 07 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 1.6°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 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.9m and 8s. 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 5.5m 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+)12PM (Fri 8th May)4.5ft (1.3m) 12s
Best Surf 3AM (Sat 9th May)16ft (5.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sun 10th May)18ft (5.5m) 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 76mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Thu night, near gales from the NE by Fri afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thu
14
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
3
0
!
!
4
!
0
!
5
5
4
4
3
4
4
3
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>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
N
9
1.2
SW
13
1.4
WSW
13
6
N
11
5
WSW
11
4.5
WSW
10
3.5
WSW
14
4.5
WSW
14
5
WSW
14
4.5
WSW
14
3
WSW
14
3
WSW
13
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
13
2.4
WSW
13
1.4
SW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.1
SW
19
1.4
SW
17
1.9
SW
16
1.8
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
822
479
601
8268
5656
3284
4918
7890
9767
7547
3761
3450
1094
1028
1949
642
1030
949
1086
1799
1396
Wind (km/h)
10
E
15
E
25
E
50
NE
15
SW
35
WSW
20
WSW
30
SW
45
WSW
20
SSW
10
S
0
NE
10
SE
10
SSE
5
NW
10
SE
5
SE
5
WNW
5
ESE
10
ESE
5
NNE
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
on
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
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
8:05AM1.81m
8:36PM1.82m
8:53AM1.93m
Low Tide
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
2:21PM0.40m
2:44AM0.41m
3:08PM0.30m
rain showers
rain showers
heavy rain
heavy rain
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:45
7:46
7:47
7:48
7:50
7:50
7:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:37
5:36
5:35
5:34
5:32
5:31
5:30
7
1
28
38
1
1
Temp °C
15
16
16
14
13
13
12
12
11
9
9
10
9
10
11
11
11
11
11
12
12
15
15
7
5
10
6
8
5
1
3
6
8
5
8
9
8
9
9
10
10
11
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
N
9
1.8
N
8
1.4
WSW
13
1.1
WSW
16
2.3
N
11
1.9
N
11
1
NNW
10
0.3
NNE
8
0.2
N
8
3.5
WSW
13
3
WSW
14
3
WSW
13
1.9
WSW
8
1.9
WSW
8
2.4
WSW
13
1.5
WSW
9
1.7
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
13
1.4
SW
13
1.9
SW
16
1.8
SW
15
Energy kJ
822
472
601
667
1208
882
179
14
5
4739
3761
3450
510
480
1949
320
1030
862
679
1799
1396
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
0.4
WNW
8
1.1
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
15
0.4
NNE
9
0.2
N
12
0.2
N
12
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
1.7
WSW
13
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
13
0.1
W
27
1.4
SW
13
0.9
SW
21
1.1
SW
19
1.4
SW
17
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
Energy kJ
373
479
22
427
805
33
12
11
3
3
1018
1094
1028
14
642
652
949
1086
2
2
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WNW
10
0.5
WNW
9
0.1
N
14
0.2
N
12
0.1
N
15
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
12
0.5
SW
24
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
0.1
N
11
Energy kJ
33
42
4
12
4
3
3
3
271
2
2
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
NNE
8
6
N
11
5
WSW
11
4.5
WSW
10
3.5
WSW
14
4.5
WSW
14
5
WSW
14
4.5
WSW
14
Energy kJ
547
8268
5656
3284
4918
7890
9767
7547
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
1
2
5
2
1
2
4
4
5
5
4
4
2
4
4
3
4
4
4
Distance (km)
0
36
238
217
36
238
217
217
458
36
0
0
0
0
36
0
0
265
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast South Island
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
5
5
5
5
4
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
4
5
2
4
5
4
5
5
6
5
9
7
4
4
8
9
9
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
7
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
6
4
6
7
6
7
8
9
9
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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