
Surf Forecasts:
Albatross surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 7,282 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Albatross this week:
The surf forecast for Albatross over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Albatross in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Albatross over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, team, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's cookin' at Albatross over the next couple of weeks.
We've got a big stretch ahead, with some serious juice in the water, but you're gonna have to pick your moments. The early days are a bit of a mess, but there are some absolute gems hidden in there for those who can wait.
First up, this Saturday morning, July 25th, is a bit of a teaser. The swell's a solid 8ft from the SW, with a long 13-second period pushing a lot of water around (combined energy of 2226). The wind is dead glassy out of the west. It's gonna look perfect, but that size and period at a sheltered spot means it’s really only for the experienced crew. Beginners, sit this one out.
The rest of that weekend and into Monday is a write-off with onshore winds and poor conditions. We're looking at a dry spell until we hit Saturday, August 1st. That's a week away, but it's worth the wait.
Now, here's the standout. Saturday morning, August 1st, the wind swings around to a glassy SSW, and we get a 8ft swell from the ESE. The combined energy is a solid 1443. That's clean, powerful, and the wind is going to groom it perfectly. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The consistency is there, too, so you won't be sitting around.
Later that same Saturday afternoon, the wind stays clean offshore from the SSW, and the swell bumps up to 8ft from the ESE with even more energy (1788). It’s a long gap between sessions, but that Saturday is a doubleheader you don't want to miss.
Looking further out, the second week fires up again. Thursday afternoon, August 6th, we see a big 10ft SW groundswell (14-second period) with a light breeze from the south cleaning it up. The energy is pumping at 4119. This is big, powerful swell, so expert-only territory again, but the conditions will be epic.
Then Friday, August 7th, is another banner day. Morning has a glassy offshore wind whipping across an 12ft SW swell at 14 seconds. That’s a massive 5090 on the energy scale. It's going to be a heavy, powerful day. The afternoon stays clean with a slight airflow. If you've got the skills and the big board, that Friday is as good as it gets.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual to report there, just classic conditions.
So to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off after a brief, expert-only window on Saturday. The real gold is next weekend, August 1st and 2nd, with clean, fun-sized swell, and then again during the big groundswell around August 6th, 7th, and 9th. That Friday the 7th is the true standout for the big-wave chargers.
Stay stoked, keep your eyes on the horizon, and I'll see you in the water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3468 | 2063 | 2601 | 2201 | 1476 | 1088 | 765 | 1150 | 6041 | 6370 | 4397 | 4788 | 3983 | 2392 | 1401 | 904 | 555 | 364 | 540 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 00:56AM1.15m | 1:44PM1.12m | 1:52AM1.24m | 2:27PM1.23m | 2:32AM1.34m | 3:02PM1.34m | 3:06AM1.43m | 3:33PM1.44m | 3:37AM1.50m | 4:02PM1.53m | 4:06AM1.55m | 4:31PM1.59m | 4:35AM1.57m | ||||||
Low Tide | 7:31AM0.55m | 7:41PM0.59m | 8:17AM0.45m | 8:26PM0.49m | 8:51AM0.34m | 9:02PM0.39m | 9:22AM0.24m | 9:34PM0.31m | 9:50AM0.16m | 10:04PM0.25m | 10:17AM0.10m | 10:34PM0.20m | |||||||
— | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
5:34 | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
3468 | 2063 | 2601 | 2201 | 1476 | 1088 | 765 | 1150 | 6041 | 6370 | 4397 | 4788 | 3983 | 2392 | 1401 | 904 | 555 | 364 | 540 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | S 11 | S 10 |
84 | 163 | 120 | 86 | 481 | 422 | 479 | 505 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 25 | — | — | — | 21 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 6 | E 8 | — | — | — | S 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 |
48 | — | — | — | 55 | 33 | 15 | 28 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | E 4 | — | WSW 7 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 |
— | — | — | — | 8 | 5 | — | 342 | 485 | — | — | — | — | — | 176 | 439 | 521 | 954 | 1188 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 180 | 30 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 144 | 198 | 183 | 198 | 198 | 52 | 140 | 198 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 142 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Albatross Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Albatross provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Albatross can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Albatross 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 (Albatross) 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 Albatross 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.
Albatross is 18 km (11 miles) from the city of Kruisfontein. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Kruisfontein. Kruisfontein has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










