
Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,608 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period with SW 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking at Big Bay. We’ve got a solid run of SW groundswell on the cards, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story, so we gotta pick our moments.
Overall Pattern & Kick-off
The energy is already building. We’re starting straight into it on Thursday, August 6th, with a punchy 10ft SW groundswell (combined energy 3228). The water is sitting at 56°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a good hood and boots. The issue is a cross-off wind from the SSE at 12 mph. It’s clean, but that wind direction isn’t ideal for Big Bay. It’s surfable, but not the stand-out.
The Real Deal
The absolute highlight of this whole forecast is Friday morning, August 7th. We’ve got a clean 10ft SW swell pulsing with a 14-second period (combined energy 3673). The wind is a light easterly at just 3 mph, putting it glassy and cross-off. This is the session for experienced surfers. The wave quality will be excellent. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon goes a bit onshore, so make it a dawn patrol.
The Middle Stretch
Saturday and Sunday (August 8th & 9th) are a bit of a mixed bag. The swell stays solid, around 8ft to 11ft, but the wind is all over the shop. Saturday has a light cross-on breeze, making it bumpy, and Sunday brings a stiff 22 mph SSE cross-off. While it’s clean, that wind is screaming. The swell energy is still massive (4132 on Saturday afternoon), but the quality is marginal. For the average surfer, these days are a pass.
The Second Week (August 10th – 21st)
The swell drops off a bit going into Monday the 10th, but we get a window of proper offshore wind. Monday morning has a 5ft SW swell with a 16 mph SE offshore; it’s clean but a bit blown out by the wind. Monday afternoon looks better with a 7ft S swell and a 12 mph SE offshore. Tuesday the 11th is a gem: 6ft SSW groundswell and a 9 mph east offshore. Clean, lined up, and perfect for intermediate and up.
We get another pulse of long-period energy on the 12th and 13th. Thursday morning the 13th is a standout for the second week: an 8ft WSW groundswell with a 17-second period (combined energy 3378) and a gentle 9 mph NE cross-off. That’s a long, clean groundswell that will run perfectly down the point. It’s a solid option for the experienced crew.
The 14th and 15th see the wind turning more cross and onshore, dropping the quality. The swell holds around 6ft, but it gets bumpy. Later in the week (August 17th-18th), a new 10ft SW swell arrives, but the wind is onshore or cross-off. Tuesday morning the 18th has a 7ft SW swell with a 16 mph SE offshore, which will be clean and punchy.
The final run from the 19th to the 21st shows the swell fading out. Wednesday morning the 19th has a 5ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a light ENE cross-off, offering a last clean session before the energy drops to 3ft and the wind goes onshore by Friday.
The Bottom Line
For the best of the best, you’re looking at Friday morning, August 7th, and Thursday morning, August 13th. Those are the two sessions where the swell size, period, and wind all lock in. The water is cold, the crowds are likely at this exposed spot, so get out there early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the SSE by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SE by Tue afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | WSW 21 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
3228 | 3267 | 3673 | 4370 | 3397 | 2221 | 4132 | 4041 | 2397 | 3210 | 1723 | 568 | 739 | 817 | 916 | 617 | 2073 | 2605 | 2283 | 2084 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:48PM1.23m | 9:52AM1.05m | 10:22PM1.20m | 11:32AM1.10m | 11:55PM1.25m | 12:48PM1.23m | 1:05AM1.35m | 1:45PM1.37m | 2:00AM1.45m | 2:32PM1.51m | 2:47AM1.53m | 3:13PM1.62m | 3:29AM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:13PM0.48m | 3:28AM0.44m | 3:47PM0.55m | 5:09AM0.43m | 5:37PM0.51m | 6:32AM0.33m | 6:57PM0.39m | 7:32AM0.21m | 7:55PM0.25m | 8:19AM0.10m | 8:44PM0.13m | 9:01AM0.02m | 9:27PM0.05m | |||||||
— | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 12 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 12 | WSW 21 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 |
3228 | 3267 | 3673 | 4370 | 3397 | 2221 | 4132 | 4041 | 2397 | 40 | 1723 | 568 | 368 | 359 | 916 | 617 | 2073 | 2605 | 2283 | 2084 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 24 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 21 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | — | 133 | 817 | 39 | 387 | 343 | 146 | 64 | 664 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | SW 26 | WSW 10 | SSW 11 | — | SSE 10 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 143 | 26 | 38 | 242 | — | 33 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | SSW 12 | — | S 9 | S 10 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 288 | 3210 | — | 425 | 739 | — | 173 | 219 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 70 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 29 | 15 | 598 | 994 | 2544 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











