Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 5,954 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Howdy, Rusty here. Let’s break down Big Bay over the next couple weeks. It starts quiet, but there’s some real heavy water headed our way.
Water temp is about 56°F, which is a solid 3°F colder than usual — you’ll feel that chill.
First surf shows Monday the 10th with an 8ft SSW swell at 11 seconds. Wind is 25 km/h out of the SE, blowing cross-off, keeping things clean. Combined energy is strong at 1416. The notes mention questionable tides, so it’s a bit average. Monday afternoon drops to 7ft from the south at 9 seconds.
Tuesday the 11th morning is cleaner: 7ft SSW groundswell at 12 seconds with a gentle offshore breeze from the east at 15 km/h. This is a solid session.
Wednesday the 12th is a real standout. Swell at 6ft from the SW, but with an 18-second period — that’s pure groundswell. The energy is 2406, and light east winds keep it glassy. Best on a point or reef.
Thursday the 13th morning pushes 8ft (WSW, 18 seconds) and the energy jumps to 3417, but it’s flagged as marginal. That 20 km/h NE wind makes it powerful but a handful.
Friday the 14th afternoon is a good call: 6ft WSW at 14 seconds, light south wind, clean.
Saturday the 15th afternoon is glassy with 6ft WSW at 13 seconds — perfect conditions.
Then it gets serious. Monday the 17th morning has 12ft from the WSW at 16 seconds, with energy at 5323. Experts only. The standout run starts Monday the 24th: 12ft WSW at 15 seconds, offshore east breeze at just 5 km/h, energy at 5634 — exceptional. Tuesday the 25th morning is glassy with 12ft SW at 14 seconds.
Small, poor waves around the 22nd, but it roars back on the 23rd. Crowds are often here, so expect some company for the best sessions.
Keep your eye on the 24th — that’s the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 11 | S 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1410 | 680 | 2088 | 1140 | 647 | 1850 | 2111 | 1952 | 2033 | 3417 | 2542 | 1933 | 1292 | 1393 | 1208 | 1059 | 1073 | 1028 | 1249 | 1770 | 5791 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:45PM1.37m | 2:00AM1.45m | 2:32PM1.51m | 2:47AM1.53m | 3:13PM1.62m | 3:29AM1.57m | 3:52PM1.68m | 4:09AM1.56m | 4:29PM1.69m | 4:46AM1.51m | 5:05PM1.64m | 5:22AM1.43m | 5:39PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:55PM0.25m | 8:19AM0.10m | 8:44PM0.13m | 9:01AM0.02m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:40AM-0.01m | 10:07PM0.02m | 10:16AM-0.00m | 10:45PM0.03m | 10:51AM0.05m | 11:22PM0.09m | 11:24AM0.14m | 11:57PM0.19m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 17 |
| kJ | 1410 | 445 | 2088 | 1140 | 647 | 1850 | 2111 | 1952 | 2033 | 3417 | 2542 | 1933 | 1292 | 1393 | 1208 | 1059 | 1073 | 1028 | 1249 | 1770 | 5791 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | SSW 13 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 24 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 21 | — |
| kJ | 6 | 336 | 76 | 21 | 381 | 207 | 106 | 106 | 898 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 26 | WSW 10 | SSE 9 | SW 10 | SSE 7 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 27 | 38 | 116 | 106 | 30 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 9 | — | — | SSE 8 | — | SSE 10 | — | ESE 4 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 680 | — | — | 213 | — | 83 | — | 7 | — | 52 | 21 | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 56 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Big Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Big Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Big Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Bay 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 (Big Bay) 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 Big Bay 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.
Big Bay is 8 km (5 miles) from the very large city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.
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