10-day surf forecast with Strike Scores for St Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand
St Clair is cold water surfing at its most rewarding—Dunedin's main beach break exposed to the roaring forties, where consistent southern swells meet dedicated locals in 5mm wetsuits and booties. The wave offers both beach break peaks and a right-hand rock point section, providing variety for all conditions. What St Clair lacks in tropical warmth it compensates with wild beauty: the dramatic Otago coastline, the Southern Alps as a distant backdrop, and a surf community forged in conditions that would send fair-weather surfers running. This is New Zealand's deep south, where the waves are cold but the stoke runs hot.
Best day in the forecast: 2026-08-07 with a score of 78/100 (Good)
Poor conditions overall: Average score 45/100. Look for spots with better forecasts.
Moderate alignment: Swell from 169° is 11° off optimal 180°, workable but not ideal.
Too big: 3.2m exceeds maximum 2.5m. Risk of closeouts.
Moderate period: 12s meets minimum 10s but below ideal 14s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 9 km/h from 270° (W). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 320°-40°.
-17 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
Poor conditions at St Clair. Either swell direction (169°), size (3.2m), or wind (9 km/h from 270°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
3.2m (10.5ft) swell from 169° (S) at 12s period
Good alignment: Swell from 176° is 4° off optimal 180°, still within prime range.
Perfect size: 1.9m is at the sweet spot (ideal: 1.6m).
Moderate period: 10s meets minimum 10s but below ideal 14s. Some groundswell energy present.
Light offshore: 6 km/h from 32° (NNE). Grooming the wave face beautifully.
-11 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
Good surfable conditions at St Clair. 1.9m swell from 176° with manageable wind. Solid session guaranteed.
1.9m (6.2ft) swell from 176° (S) at 10s period
Good alignment: Swell from 173° is 7° off optimal 180°, still within prime range.
Good size: 1.8m is within 15% of ideal 1.6m.
Moderate offshore: 10 km/h from 24° (NNE). Still grooming but noticeable wind.
Good surfable conditions at St Clair. 1.8m swell from 173° with manageable wind. Solid session guaranteed.
1.8m (5.9ft) swell from 173° (S) at 12s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 158° is 22° off optimal 180°, workable but not ideal.
Marginal size: 1.1m is 0.4m from ideal 1.6m.
Light offshore: 7 km/h from 24° (NNE). Grooming the wave face beautifully.
Surfable but not special at St Clair. The 1.1m swell from 158° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
1.1m (3.6ft) swell from 158° (SSE) at 10s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 124° is 56° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-220°.
Marginal size: 1.6m is 0.1m from ideal 1.6m.
Light offshore: 4 km/h from 27° (NNE). Grooming the wave face beautifully.
+6 points: Multiple days of offshore wind have groomed the ocean surface, creating ultra-clean conditions.
Surfable but not special at St Clair. The 1.6m swell from 124° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
1.6m (5.2ft) swell from 124° (SE) at 10s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 133° is 47° off optimal 180°, barely within workable range 150°-220°.
Short period: 9s is below minimum 10s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Moderate offshore: 18 km/h from 24° (NNE). Still grooming but noticeable wind.
+4 points: Multiple days of offshore wind have groomed the ocean surface, creating ultra-clean conditions.
Surfable but not special at St Clair. The 1.9m swell from 133° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
1.9m (6.2ft) swell from 133° (SE) at 9s period
Local wind-generated waves (choppy, short-period)
No alignment: Swell from 108° is outside workable range 150°-220°. Wrong swell direction for this spot.
Marginal size: 1.3m is 0.3m from ideal 1.6m.
Short period: 8s is below minimum 10s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 23 km/h from 41° (NE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 320°-40°.
-5 points: Short-period windswell is present, creating choppy, disorganized conditions.
Poor conditions at St Clair. Either swell direction (108°), size (1.3m), or wind (23 km/h from 41°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.3m (4.3ft) swell from 108° (ESE) at 8s period
No alignment: Swell from 80° is outside workable range 150°-220°. Wrong swell direction for this spot.
Good size: 2.0m is within 15% of ideal 1.6m.
Moderate offshore: 14 km/h from 21° (NNE). Still grooming but noticeable wind.
-10 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
Poor conditions at St Clair. Either swell direction (80°), size (2.0m), or wind (14 km/h from 21°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
2.0m (6.6ft) swell from 80° (E) at 9s period
Very low confidence (8-10 day forecast, conditions may change)
No alignment: Swell from 74° is outside workable range 150°-220°. Wrong swell direction for this spot.
Light offshore: 9 km/h from 350° (N). Grooming the wave face beautifully.
-7 points: Previous days of onshore wind left residual chop ("morning sickness"), reducing wave quality.
Poor conditions at St Clair. Either swell direction (74°), size (1.3m), or wind (9 km/h from 350°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.3m (4.3ft) swell from 74° (ENE) at 9s period
Perfect alignment: Swell from 181° is within 5° of optimal 180°.
Marginal size: 1.7m is 0.1m from ideal 1.6m.
Moderate period: 20s meets minimum 10s but below ideal 14s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 259° (W). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 320°-40°.
Surfable but not special at St Clair. The 1.7m swell from 181° is workable, but conditions aren't ideal. Fine if you're local, but not worth a dedicated trip.
1.7m (5.6ft) swell from 181° (S) at 20s period
Open-Meteo Weather API (wind/weather data)