Smoothwater Bay surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Tuesday 03 Mar 2026 NZDT
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
16.8° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Smoothwater Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Smoothwater Bay over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Mar 03) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m 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 12 days are 4.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Mar 08) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Mar 07) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 3rd Mar)3.5ft (1.1m) 11s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 8th Mar)15ft (4.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sun 8th Mar)15ft (4.5m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Smoothwater Bay over the next 12 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 68mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
03
Wednesday
04
Thursday
05
Friday
06
Saturday
07
Sunday
08
Mon
09
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
4
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
1
3
3
7
!
!
7
4
3
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.2
WSW
0.9
WSW
0.5
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.4
WSW
1.2
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.2
W
1.8
WSW
1.5
WSW
2.2
WSW
3
WSW
4
WSW
4.5
WSW
4.5
WSW
4
WSW
3
WSW
2.5
WSW
Period(s) (?)111121181616151414131215141414161616151414
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)3292072561144146313758805945695364041441841200531277098944710194614733342392
Wind
(km/h)
15
SSE
5
NE
10
NNW
10
SE
5
NE
10
NNE
5
SSE
0
ENE
10
NNW
10
ESE
15
E
10
ENE
20
NNE
10
WSW
20
WSW
15
SW
10
SW
15
WSW
5
S
15
NE
10
N
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offglassonoffcrosscross-
on
offglassoncross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
on
crosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
crosscross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
11:56PM
2.01
12:14PM
2.11
12:36AM
2.04
12:52PM
2.11
1:13AM
2.04
1:28PM
2.08
1:47AM
2.00
2:03PM
2.01
2:21AM
1.94
2:38PM
1.92
2:54AM
1.86
3:14PM
1.82
3:30AM
1.77
3:55PM
1.71
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:05AM
0.28
6:26PM
0.23
6:44AM
0.24
7:04PM
0.22
7:20AM
0.24
7:40PM
0.24
7:55AM
0.28
8:15PM
0.30
8:29AM
0.35
8:50PM
0.39
9:04AM
0.44
9:26PM
0.49
9:42AM
0.55
Tuesday
03
Wednesday
04
Thursday
05
Friday
06
Saturday
07
Sunday
08
Mon
09
Sunrise-7:24--7:26--7:26--7:28--7:30--7:31--7:31-
Sunset--8:29--8:27--8:25--8:23--8:22--8:20--8:19
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
----------19571-------
Temp. °C121314131415141414141515171817121516141414
Feels °C (?)9111211121314131313131416161371113131212
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Smoothwater Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

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 Smoothwater Bay 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 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 12 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest