
Surf Forecasts:
The Desert surf forecast from 3 Nov 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 14 Nov, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 14 Nov, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 2,368 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 4 Nov, 1AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Desert this week:
The surf forecast for The Desert over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Nov 04) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Desert in the next 16 days are 2.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Nov 14) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Nov 08) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 4th Nov) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 14th Nov) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 14th Nov) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Desert over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 3 | Wednesday 4 | Thursday 5 | Friday 6 | Saturday 7 | Sunday 8 | Monday 9 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
97 | 102 | 394 | 453 | 347 | 199 | 170 | 104 | 27 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 54 | 49 | 45 | 44 | 37 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:11AM1.63m | 1:40PM1.72m | 2:07AM1.61m | 2:34PM1.68m | 3:03AM1.60m | 3:28PM1.64m | 3:57AM1.61m | 4:21PM1.61m | 4:49AM1.63m | 5:13PM1.58m | 5:39AM1.64m | 6:04PM1.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:06PM0.22m | 7:25AM0.24m | 7:56PM0.27m | 8:21AM0.29m | 8:45PM0.33m | 9:16AM0.34m | 9:36PM0.41m | 10:12AM0.40m | 10:28PM0.49m | 11:07AM0.46m | 11:22PM0.55m | 12:00PM0.52m | 00:14AM0.60m | |||||||
— | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
8:01 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 |
23 | 102 | 394 | 453 | 347 | 199 | 170 | 80 | 61 | 53 | 34 | 38 | 98 | 80 | 70 | 40 | 38 | 57 | 55 | 19 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | NE 6 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | ENE 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 5 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
97 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 104 | 27 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 54 | 49 | 45 | 44 | 37 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 11 | NE 5 | NE 7 | NW 5 | ENE 4 | E 13 | WNW 6 | SSW 10 | SW 12 | SE 12 | SW 9 | SW 12 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SW 5 | E 10 | SW 5 | W 3 | E 9 |
5 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NE 7 | N 5 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 5 | — | ENE 4 |
75 | 16 | 32 | 37 | 37 | 11 | 28 | 72 | 11 | 46 | 27 | 25 | 56 | 11 | 51 | 178 | 85 | 19 | — | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 164 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the The Desert Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Desert provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Desert can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Desert 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 (The Desert) 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 The Desert 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.










