Whale Watch Reef surfForecast / Kaikoura and Marlborough / New Zealand

information circle48hr Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Tuesday 19 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Whale Watch Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Whale Watch Reef sea temperature is
13.1° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

How big are the waves at Whale Watch Reef today?

The current surf forecast for Whale Watch Reef at 9PM is: 0.3m 10s primary swell from a East-northeast direction and 0.7m 4s secondary swell from a Northeast direction (forecast issued at 05:00pm May 19). An open ocean swell of 0.4m 8s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be glassy.

Time (NZST) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (19 May)--
Afternoon (19 May)1ft (0.3m)10s
Evening (19 May)1ft (0.3m)10s

Table - waves today at Whale Watch Reef. (Swell directed towards the surf break)


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

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

Tue
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Fri
22
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
3 PM
6 PM
9 PM
12 AM
3 AM
6 AM
9 AM
12 PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height MapHeight MapHeight Map
Height MapHeight MapHeight Map
Height MapHeight MapHeight Map
Height MapHeight MapHeight Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.9
NNE
5
0.9
NNE
5
0.6
NE
5
0.7
NE
6
0.6
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
1
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
1
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.8
NNE
6
0.6
NNE
6
0.4
NNE
5
0.2
NNE
5
0.1
NE
6
0.2
ENE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
21
20
20
37
44
21
30
26
40
78
78
81
83
83
105
83
108
93
43
21
11
3
2
3
Wind (km/h)
5
E
5
N
5
W
5
W
5
WNW
5
NW
5
NNW
5
ENE
5
ENE
5
NW
10
NW
10
NNW
10
WNW
10
NNW
10
NW
5
N
5
NNE
10
NW
20
SSW
15
SSW
5
SE
10
E
15
NE
15
NE
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
on
High Tide
6:50PM2.28m
7:23AM2.09m
7:47PM2.25m
8:21AM2.08m
8:44PM2.18m
9:17AM2.05m
Low Tide
12:33PM0.32m
1:13AM0.34m
1:30PM0.31m
2:10AM0.34m
2:27PM0.32m
3:06AM0.36m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:33
7:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:09
5:08
5:07
5:07
Temp °C
12
11
11
11
11
11
11
14
14
14
14
13
13
12
14
18
18
17
13
10
10
10
10
11
11
10
9
9
9
8
9
12
12
11
10
8
9
8
11
15
16
14
9
6
8
8
7
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
8
0.4
SSE
8
0.4
SSE
8
0.7
NE
5
0.7
NE
5
0.6
NE
5
0.7
NE
6
0.6
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
1
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
1
NNE
7
0.9
NNE
7
0.8
NNE
6
0.6
NNE
6
1.1
S
5
1
S
5
0.8
SSE
5
0.7
SSE
5
Energy kJ
36
22
22
21
23
21
30
26
40
78
78
81
83
83
105
83
108
93
43
21
65
55
35
20
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ENE
4
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.3
SSE
10
0.3
SSE
9
0.3
SSE
9
0.3
SSE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
ENE
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
S
13
0.2
S
10
0.3
S
10
0.3
S
11
0.3
S
11
0.3
S
10
0.4
NNE
5
0.3
S
10
0.3
S
10
0.5
S
10
Energy kJ
7
20
20
33
19
17
16
16
8
8
9
9
9
7
13
8
19
21
21
19
11
17
16
54
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ENE
10
0.2
SSE
11
0.2
SSE
11
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
SSE
9
0.2
SSE
8
0.2
S
8
0.2
S
11
0.1
SE
13
0.1
S
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
12
0.1
SE
12
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
9
0.3
S
10
0.2
NNE
5
0.1
NE
6
0.1
S
16
Energy kJ
21
12
11
19
19
18
17
8
8
7
6
9
7
3
3
2
3
6
2
2
18
3
2
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
NE
4
0.6
ENE
4
0.7
NE
4
0.9
NNE
5
0.9
NNE
5
0.3
SW
2
1
S
4
0.1
NE
4
0.2
ENE
6
Energy kJ
10
11
18
37
44
1
40
1
3
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
11
11
9
0
0
63
0
12
0
0
0
11
0
175
131
131
0
11
0
104
131
35
25
25
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
3
1
1
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
5
4
4
4
5
4
4
  • 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

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