Chch Surf - forecast

Surf forecast

Near-time prediction: ...loading
Tap on an area of the chart below to see data More info
Wind
speed
(km/h)
 30+   25   20   15   10    5    0
Swell
Cave RockSumner

10 day overview: More info

AMPM AMPM AMPM AMPM AMPM AMPM AMPM AMPM AMPM AMPM
Waves
Wind
4kts
9kts
10kts
7kts
7kts
10kts
8kts
9kts
23kts
18kts
18kts
15kts
6kts
4kts
8kts
5kts
13kts
11kts
7kts
9kts
Swell 1.4

8.4
1.2

7.8
0.5

12.4
0.5

10.9
0.8

8.4
0.8

8.8
1.7

8.6
2

8.2
2.2

8.7
1.8

8.2
1.3

8.3
1.6

7.3
1.4

8.5
2.4

6.1
1.5

10.3
1.2

9.6
0.8

8.4
1.4

5
1.4

5.5
2.4

11.7

Near-time prediction

New and experimental!

This table shows the most recent data received from the LPC Buoy, and the Holfuy weather station. Historical data is analysed and used to estimate future wind and swell.
How is this different from the forecast?

Latest weather station data:

At 11:45pm, the wind speed was 0km/h from 211° , with gusts up to 1km/h
Wind data from the Holfuy station above Taylors Mistake
Conditions were overcast and 0°C, with a UV index of 0

(0 is low, 10 is high UV intensity)

Latest buoy data:

At 11:30pm the swell height was 1.0ft every 11.1 seconds, from 85.4°
Thanks to Lyttelton Port Company for use of the buoy data, which is located 10.5km east of Scarborough beach.
The buoy transmits data every 15 minutes, last new data was processed at 11:32pm
More detailed data is available here (under the 'Offshore' tab)

Todays forecast:

Partly cloudy throughout the day.
A low of -3°C and high of 9°C
Todays maximum UV index is 3

(0 is low, 10 is high UV intensity)
Ocean surface temperature 10.8 °

Credits and sources

Christchurch Surf is made using:

Christchurch Surf, v3.6

v3.6 released 4 June 2025 (Added 10 day outlook table to home page)

v3.5 released 1 June 2025 (Extended available surf forecast from 7 to 10 days)

v3.4 released 1 June 2025 (Added near-time predictions.)

v3.3 released 31 May 2025 (Added Holfuy weather station data for real-time wind. Added Mangamaunu surf cam links.)

v3.2 released 28 August 2024 (Tidy up surf cam links due to several out of service.)

v3.1 released 2 July 2024 (Improvements to swell interval forecast data, by using AI modelling to compare forecast data to the LPC buoy data.)

v3.0 released 18 January 2024 (Switched to using Storm Glass AI for swell and wave prediction data. This is able to provide more accurate data that takes into account wind swell and ground swell arriving at each location, as well as using multiple sources to give the most accurate forecast possible.)

v2.8 released 27 November 2023 (Updated data source for the LPC buoy. Buoy data now updates in near real-time rather than every hour.)

v2.7 released 15 June 2023 (An automated report for the best time and location tomorrow now posts to the Chch Surf Facebook page every evening at 5:30pm.)

v2.6 released 13 June 2023 (Plain text surf reports for each day are now displayed above the forecast chart. These are automatically generated, unless a manual report exists to display instead.)

v2.5 released 5 June 2023 (Major update to the wave height algorithm, to more accurately reflect wave heights through each hour of the forecast. Each hour forecast also now includes a rating from 0 to 5 stars, which takes in to account the waves, swell, tide and wind data for that time, as well as recent wind conditions and the direction of the coastline. More detailed star ratings can be shown by tapping on the forecast chart, which will display the extra data just above the chart).

v2.4 released 3 June 2023 (User generated surf reports now show on front page of site for the first 8 hours, added the ability to share photo galleries to Facebook).

v2.3 released 27 May 2023 (added the ability to 'heart' user generated surf reports, and show number of views).

v2.2 released 19 May 2023 (added links to photo galleries on main page, improved reliability of email sending, improved display of user generated surf reports).

v2.1 released 14 May 2023 (improved sizing of the forecast panel on mid-sized displays, and added weather icons to top of chart).

v2.0 released 11 May 2023 - Relaunched at chchsurf.com with the following updates: Read more

  • Improved quality of swell data by using a different data source at MetOcean, and improved data processing.
  • Users can sign up for free daily emails with swell conditions, weather, and other useful info.
  • Ability for users to add their own surf report with photo and/or text. Other users can view the report for 3 days.
  • Photo galleries organised by date, a highlights gallery, and abilty to download watermarked images or buy full sized originals.
  • Contact page and Facebook page.
  • Added data on UV index to the site and daily emails.
  • General bug fixed and display enhancements.

v1.3 released 26 April 2023 (added swell data from LPC buoy and improved todays weather forecast information).

v1.25 released 25 April 2023 (improved display on smaller screen sizes).

v1.2 released 23 April 2023 (improved display on larger screen sizes).

v1.1 released 9 April 2023 (improved swell data and display).

v1.0 released 2 April 2023 (initial launch at oligibbs.com/surf)

Site code last updated: 8:07am, 5 June 2025