Surf Forecasts:
Albatross surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 2,724 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Albatross in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Albatross over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's have a look at what's on the cards for Albatross over the next couple of weeks.
It's a pretty bleak start, to be honest. The first few days are a write-off with a strong cross-onshore wind and lumpy, poor conditions, and combined wave energy is right up there (2307) on Sunday but it's messy. We've got to wait until Monday the 14th before anything worth paddling out for shows up.
Monday the 14th is where we finally see a change. The morning session looks good with a glassy surface, light offshore wind from the west, and a clean 4ft SW swell. The water is running at 61°, which is a solid 5° colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want a decent wetsuit. The energy is moderate at 543. It's a good one to get back into it, but it's not the standout.
Now, if you want the real deal, keep your eyes on Sunday the 20th. This is the standout of the whole period. We've got a clean, glassy morning with a solid 10ft swell from the ESE, and the combined energy is a serious 3306. This is proper groundswell with a period of 10 seconds. It's a beach and reef setup here at Albatross, and with that size and power, it's going to be a big, heavy wave – definitely for experienced surfers only. The crowd factor is there sometimes, so get in early.
Monday the 21st still has some good energy with an 8ft SE swell and a strong offshore wind, keeping things clean, but it's a step down from the Sunday peak.
After that, the wind turns ugly again mid-week, but there is another promising window right at the end of the forecast. Saturday the 26th has a nice 8ft WSW groundswell with light cross-offshore winds, making for some clean waves. Then Sunday the 27th looks excellent for the experienced crew again: an 8ft WSW swell, light offshore wind, and glassy conditions, with energy at 2412. That one looks like a great session for those who can handle it.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is mostly a dud with a couple of clean mornings, but the real standouts are Sunday the 20th and Sunday the 27th. Don't sleep on those.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Sun morning, calm by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed morning, light winds from the ESE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2307 | 1649 | 872 | 543 | 444 | 303 | 190 | 276 | 496 | 1602 | 2703 | 991 | 1109 | 1065 | 855 | 907 | 1423 | 925 | 695 | 645 | 767 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:53PM1.77m | 5:06AM1.58m | 5:20PM1.67m | 5:33AM1.48m | 5:46PM1.53m | 5:59AM1.37m | 6:12PM1.39m | 6:25AM1.24m | 6:38PM1.24m | 6:55AM1.09m | 7:11PM1.09m | 7:50AM0.95m | 8:56PM0.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:39AM0.02m | 11:04PM0.07m | 11:06AM0.10m | 11:30PM0.16m | 11:33AM0.21m | 11:56PM0.27m | 11:59AM0.34m | 00:22AM0.40m | 12:25PM0.48m | 00:53AM0.54m | 12:56PM0.63m | 1:41AM0.68m | 2:00PM0.77m | 4:51AM0.75m | |||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — |
mm | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 2307 | 1649 | 2016 | 1375 | 1280 | 1137 | 785 | 536 | 453 | 1602 | 2703 | 991 | 1109 | 1065 | 855 | 907 | 1423 | 925 | 695 | 645 | 767 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 5 | SW 12 | SW 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | WSW 9 | SSE 7 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | — | — | SW 16 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 8 | 872 | 543 | 444 | 65 | 190 | 276 | 317 | 200 | 162 | 121 | 286 | 98 | 98 | 139 | — | — | 85 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 | WSW 7 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | S 10 | — | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | — | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 303 | 56 | 93 | 496 | 2 | — | 131 | 102 | 136 | — | 232 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 10 | — | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 9 | S 5 | S 7 | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 1537 | 2600 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 3 | 560 | 131 | 537 | — | 183 | 135 | 117 | 320 | 506 | 1102 | 2003 | 1297 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 183 | 198 | 142 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 143 | 140 | 180 | 180 | 30 | 595 | 198 | 10 | 180 | 198 | 140 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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