The Fences surf break

The Fences surfForecast / Wanganui-Manawatu / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 NZDT
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
18.3° 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 Thursday (Mar 26) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Fences in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Mar 30) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Mar 26) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Thu 26th Mar)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Best Surf 1PM (Tue 31st Mar)8ft (2.5m) 9s
Most Powerful10PM (Mon 30th Mar)11ft (3.5m) 9s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the WNW by Mon afternoon).

Wednesday
25
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
29
Monday
30
Tuesday
31
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
3
1
0
0
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.3
WSW
0.2
WSW
0.8
S
0.4
WSW
0.4
SW
0.5
W
1.1
WNW
1.2
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.3
W
1.2
W
0.9
W
0.4
SW
0.4
WSW
2
WNW
3
W
3
W
3.5
W
2.5
W
2.3
W
1.5
W
Period(s) (?)12125151415121110109814141110109998
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)291534875111234731131832623510547719432098185318501157828309
Wind
(km/h)
10
E
15
S
10
E
15
E
20
E
20
NE
20
NNE
15
N
10
NNW
10
NNW
15
W
5
NNE
10
N
10
WNW
20
NNW
30
NW
35
WNW
30
WNW
5
SSW
5
SW
10
N
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
offcross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
offcross-
off
crosscross-
off
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
ononcross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
3:24PM
2.11
3:56AM
2.07
4:34PM
1.90
5:17AM
1.92
6:07PM
1.79
6:54AM
1.91
7:43PM
1.86
8:16AM
2.04
8:52PM
2.03
9:14AM
2.22
9:41PM
2.21
9:58AM
2.38
10:21PM
2.37
Low Tide
/ height (m)
9:24PM
0.63
10:10AM
0.74
10:48PM
0.84
12:09PM
0.85
12:55AM
0.86
1:54PM
0.75
2:20AM
0.72
2:58PM
0.56
3:15AM
0.53
3:44PM
0.37
3:58AM
0.36
4:21PM
0.22
Wednesday
25
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
29
Monday
30
Tuesday
31
Sunrise7:26--7:28--7:30--7:31--7:31--7:33--7:33--
Sunset-7:25--7:23--7:22--7:21--7:19--7:17--7:15-
cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
--16131--------2------
Temp. °C212018151620222419222217232319191816161712
Feels °C (?)201817121317202319212018222217151210151510
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Quick surf report for The Fences:

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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 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.

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