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Surf Forecasts:

Smoothwater Bay surfForecast / West Coast South Island / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Tuesday 13 Jan 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
16.2° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

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 (Jan 13) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 12 days are 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 15) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jan 18) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Tue 13th Jan)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Thu 15th Jan)5ft (1.6m) 14s
Most Powerful 1PM (Thu 15th Jan)5.5ft (1.7m) 14s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
2
2
0
2
1
0
2
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.3
WSW
1.4
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.6
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.7
WSW
1.6
SW
1.3
WSW
1.3
WSW
1.2
WSW
1.1
SW
0.9
WSW
0.9
SW
0.9
SW
0.9
SW
0.9
SW
0.8
SW
0.8
SW
0.9
SW
1.2
SW
Period(s) (?)101010101414141313131212121112121111111113
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)328356301283105711261193880563538384314231179199199182142145176501
Wind
(km/h)
5
NW
5
SE
0
NW
10
W
10
S
0
SW
5
NNW
10
SE
5
NNW
5
W
15
SSE
5
ENE
10
NW
10
SSE
10
SE
15
W
10
SSE
5
NW
15
WNW
5
S
10
NNE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		offglasscrossoffglassonoffglasscrossoffglasscross-
on		offoffcross-
on		offglasscross-
on		glasscross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:29PM
1.68
8:59AM
1.68
9:26PM
1.72
9:55AM
1.74
10:18PM
1.78
10:44AM
1.82
11:05PM
1.85
11:27AM
1.90
11:47PM
1.92
12:06PM
1.97
12:27AM
1.97
12:43PM
2.02
1:04AM
2.01
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:43AM
0.82
3:15PM
0.81
3:42AM
0.80
4:09PM
0.77
4:35AM
0.75
4:56PM
0.71
5:20AM
0.68
5:37PM
0.65
6:00AM
0.61
6:16PM
0.58
6:36AM
0.55
6:53PM
0.51
7:12AM
0.49
Tue
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Sunrise--6:18--6:20--6:22--6:22--6:24--6:24--6:26
Sunset9:29--9:28--9:28--9:27--9:25--9:25--9:24--
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
---------1-----------
Temp. °C141314161418171616171516171617171616171616
Feels °C (?)131212141317161615161315151514141514151514
  • 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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Latest Updates

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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Smoothwater Bay at:
surf-forecast.com

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.

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