The Fences surf break

The Fences surfForecast / Wanganui-Manawatu / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Saturday 23 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
The Fences surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's The Fences sea temperature is
15.5° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Fences this week:

The surf forecast for The Fences over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 23) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Fences in the next 16 days are 1.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 30) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Friday (May 29) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Sat 23rd May)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf12AM (Sat 30th May)4ft (1.2m) 17s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sat 30th May)4.5ft (1.4m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Fences over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the WNW by Thu afternoon).

Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
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
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
10
0.7
WSW
14
0.5
WSW
13
0.4
WSW
19
0.7
WSW
17
0.7
WSW
16
0.6
WSW
14
0.6
WSW
14
0.5
S
13
1.4
W
6
0.9
WSW
6
0.3
S
11
0.5
S
16
0.8
S
14
0.6
S
14
1.5
W
6
2
W
7
1.7
W
7
1.2
W
7
0.6
S
17
1.2
S
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
70
207
96
142
261
220
138
136
82
156
56
23
122
264
131
160
342
320
150
209
835
Wind (km/h)
5
NNE
10
SSE
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
SSE
5
ENE
5
N
15
WNW
20
NNW
15
NW
5
ESE
15
E
15
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
25
NW
30
WNW
15
WNW
10
ENE
10
SSE
5
NE
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
off
High Tide
3:17PM1.99m
3:46AM2.09m
4:25PM1.92m
4:54AM2.03m
5:35PM1.92m
5:59AM2.02m
6:37PM1.98m
6:57AM2.05m
7:31PM2.06m
7:48AM2.11m
8:16PM2.15m
8:32AM2.17m
8:57PM2.24m
Low Tide
9:10AM0.59m
9:31PM0.68m
10:26AM0.65m
10:49PM0.74m
11:38AM0.65m
00:02AM0.73m
12:39PM0.61m
1:01AM0.67m
1:28PM0.54m
1:50AM0.60m
2:10PM0.48m
2:31AM0.53m
2:47PM0.43m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:26
7:26
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:08
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:06
5:06
Temp °C
15
15
12
14
16
12
14
15
12
14
14
12
14
14
12
15
15
14
15
16
11
13
12
9
11
12
10
12
13
10
13
13
8
11
11
8
10
10
10
14
13
9
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
10
0.7
WSW
14
0.5
WSW
13
0.4
WSW
19
0.7
WSW
17
0.7
WSW
16
0.6
WSW
14
0.6
WSW
14
0.5
S
13
0.5
S
12
0.9
WSW
6
0.6
S
5
0.5
S
16
0.8
S
14
0.6
S
14
0.5
S
13
0.5
S
13
0.6
S
15
1.2
W
7
0.9
WSW
6
1.2
S
17
Energy kJ
70
207
96
142
261
220
138
136
82
72
56
19
122
264
131
84
78
167
150
66
835
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
WSW
15
0.2
S
12
0.5
S
5
0.4
WSW
12
0.3
WSW
12
0.4
S
17
0.4
S
11
0.5
S
14
0.4
WSW
13
0.3
WSW
13
0.4
S
12
0.3
S
11
0.3
S
4
0.2
WSW
15
0.2
WSW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.3
WSW
14
0.4
SW
13
0.5
S
14
0.6
S
17
0.7
S
5
Energy kJ
44
12
11
60
26
86
41
96
67
32
44
23
3
21
20
52
36
46
97
209
27
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
WSW
12
0.1
NW
9
0.2
S
10
0.3
S
15
0.3
S
14
0.1
N
8
0.3
S
16
0.1
N
8
0.4
SW
13
0.2
WSW
13
0.3
WSW
12
0.2
WSW
12
0.3
S
11
0.2
WSW
11
0.2
WSW
11
0.2
W
13
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
Energy kJ
29
3
7
42
37
1
44
1
44
16
28
14
21
11
11
14
54
53
46
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
ESE
4
0.8
ESE
4
0.7
SE
4
0.5
SE
4
1.2
W
5
1.4
W
6
0.7
ESE
4
0.4
ESE
4
0.7
NW
4
1.5
W
6
2
W
7
1.7
W
7
0.4
SSE
3
0.8
ESE
4
Energy kJ
13
19
14
6
80
156
15
5
13
160
342
320
2
22
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
3
Distance (km)
0
104
20
20
20
0
0
7
7
7
0
20
0
7
7
7
164
113
0
41
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Wanganui and the Manawatu
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
8
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
7
9
9
7
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
8
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
5
7
9
9
7
  • 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
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for The Fences:

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 The Fences 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 The Fences Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for The Fences provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Fences can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Fences 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 Fences) 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 Fences 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 Wanganui and the Manawatu? If you are looking for accommodation near TheFences, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Wanganui and the Manawatu, consider staying in Wanganui which is 32 km (20 miles) away. Other places in and around Wanganui and the Manawatu where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Palmerston North which is 96 km (60 miles) away and Levin, 99 km (61 miles) away.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest