Surf Forecasts:
Barbel Point surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with 5,764 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Barbel Point this week:
The surf forecast for Barbel Point over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Barbel Point in the next 16 days are 3.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5PM. 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Barbel Point over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on the cards for Barbel Point over the next couple of weeks.
The first few days are pretty quiet. Tuesday morning and afternoon have small, weak swell – barely knee-high, with cross and cross-off breezes. Not much to work with.
Then Wednesday, September 2nd, is the day to circle. We’ve got a solid 1.7m SSW swell rolling in with a 14-second period – that’s real groundswell, clean and punchy. The morning has a light offshore wind from the SSW, so the waves will be lined up and glassy. Energy is strong at 1175. This is the best of the bunch – for experienced surfers, with good shape and power. Crowds might show, but it’s worth it.
Thursday afternoon, September 3rd, also offers a chance. Swell drops to 0.9m but with a clean offshore breeze from the SW, and moderate energy at 394. Not huge, but clean and fun for intermediates.
Friday, September 4th, turns wild – 4.5m in the morning, 3.5m in the afternoon – but it’s a short-period SSE windswell, and winds are howling onshore or cross-shore at 30-35 km/h. That’s better for kiteboarding than paddling. Too messy.
Sunday, September 6th, is another standout. Morning swell is 1.7m with a very long 19-second period from the SSW, giving strong energy at 2511. The wind is cross-off and clean. The afternoon builds to 3.0m with an 18-second period – massive energy at 5989 – but gets lumpy with cross-chop. The morning session is the one for experienced surfers, especially on a point break. Crowds are possible.
After that, it’s mostly grim. From Monday, September 7th, through to the 16th, the surf is small, onshore, and poor. A few days of stiff NE winds, then tiny, weak leftovers. September 12th (Saturday) has a small 1.3m pulse with a short 8-second period and offshore wind, but it’s fleeting and inconsistent. Not worth a special trip.
So, your best shots are Wednesday, September 2nd morning and Sunday, September 6th morning. The rest of the two weeks is mostly flat or blown out. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NE by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Thu night, min 16°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | S 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 43 | 116 | 299 | 672 | 1175 | 1191 | 536 | 347 | 180 | 2456 | 3870 | 2410 | 1040 | 361 | 229 | 245 | 2205 | 5764 | 4358 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:42AM1.53m | 6:02PM1.63m | 6:14AM1.43m | 6:36PM1.50m | 6:51AM1.29m | 7:18PM1.34m | 7:40AM1.13m | 8:22PM1.17m | 9:21AM0.99m | 10:47PM1.07m | 12:16PM1.05m | 00:51AM1.17m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:41PM0.09m | 11:45AM0.07m | 00:13AM0.18m | 12:18PM0.19m | 00:51AM0.30m | 12:56PM0.33m | 1:38AM0.45m | 1:48PM0.50m | 2:59AM0.60m | 3:39PM0.65m | 5:41AM0.61m | 6:29PM0.60m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 5:47 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 16 | 13 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | E 9 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | S 15 |
| kJ | 201 | 147 | 299 | 672 | 1175 | 1191 | 536 | 111 | 142 | 153 | 179 | 2128 | 1040 | 361 | 136 | 230 | 2205 | 5764 | 4358 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | SSW 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | E 9 | — | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | — | — | NE 9 | S 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | E 8 | ENE 10 | — |
| kJ | 24 | 116 | 138 | 79 | 55 | 56 | — | 347 | 180 | — | — | 41 | 112 | 141 | 229 | 245 | 133 | 160 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | S 6 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | SW 12 | — | — | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 19 | SSW 10 | — | — |
| kJ | 43 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 72 | — | — | 34 | 37 | 52 | 122 | 15 | 173 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | ENE 8 | — | — | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | — | E 8 | E 7 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | E 9 |
| kJ | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | — | 212 | — | — | 2456 | 3870 | 2410 | — | 193 | 130 | 67 | 45 | 225 | 106 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 290 | 0 | 0 | 405 | 152 | 1 | 0 | 77 | 1797 | 1897 | 540 | 353 | 353 | 270 | 561 | 928 | 540 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Barbel Point Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Barbel Point provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Barbel Point can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Barbel Point 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 (Barbel Point) 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 Barbel Point 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.
Barbel Point is 46 km (29 miles) from the city of Butterworth. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Butterworth. Butterworth has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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