Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,911 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period with WSW 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 (Sep 07) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 12s. 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 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what Big Bay has got cooking over the next couple of weeks. There’s some good stuff in there, but you’ve gotta pick your windows.
Monday the 7th kicks off with a 6ft SW swell, but it’s cross-on and only a 3/5. Nothing to write home about. Tuesday and Wednesday are small and messy, with waves down to 2ft and weak energy. Not worth the drive.
Thursday the 10th sees a bump up to 8ft WSW groundswell with a 15-second period, packing strong energy (2411). The wind is clean cross-off, but that’s getting into the too-big-for-beginners range. Morning session is the go before the wind picks up.
Friday the 11th has an 8ft S swell in the afternoon, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s gonna be lumpy with that 30 km/h wind.
Saturday the 12th is pumping again with a 8ft SW swell, long-period at 15 seconds, and energy is roaring (2721). Cross-off wind, but fresh. Good for the experienced crew.
Sunday the 13th is the pick of the first week. A 7ft SW swell, but the wind shifts offshore from the ESE at just 15 km/h. It’s clean, gentle, and the energy is solid (1646). This is the standout – offshore and a solid swell. Not for beginners, but for everyone else, get in the water Sunday morning.
Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th are a total mess. Strong cross-on winds from the NNW, choppy, poor. Swell drops to 4ft to 4ft. Don’t bother.
Wednesday the 16th gets huge – a 15ft WSW swell, but onshore wind makes it a washing machine. Thursday the 17th is still massive at 13ft SW, but cleaner cross-off. Only for the experts. Energy is insane (6217).
Friday the 18th is a beauty – a 7ft SW swell with fresh offshore SE winds. That’s clean, punchy, and another standout. Solid for intermediates and above.
Saturday the 19th is smaller at 4ft, but light offshore winds make for a fun morning on a smaller board.
Sunday the 20th through Monday the 21st stay clean with 6ft to 7ft WSW swells, cross-off winds. Not epic, but good fun.
Tuesday the 22nd drops another big one – an 12ft SW swell with light offshore SE winds. That’s excellent for the experienced, with massive energy (3620). A big, clean day if you’re game.
The two best windows are Sunday morning the 13th – clean offshore, solid 7ft SW – and Friday morning the 18th – offshores with a punchy 7ft SW. For the brave, Tuesday the 22nd is also a ripper. Big Bay can get busy, so expect company on those clean days.
Water temp is 52°, which is 8° colder than normal – that’s very unusual. You’ll want a thick wetsuit, boots, and probably a hood. It’s cold out there.
That’s the word. I’ll be suiting up Sunday.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | S 8 | S 7 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1069 | 454 | 294 | 140 | 172 | 304 | 295 | 563 | 2411 | 1748 | 1226 | 830 | 707 | 427 | 1776 | 2295 | 2298 | 1558 | 1190 | 802 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:05AM1.32m | 1:34PM1.43m | 1:53AM1.44m | 2:15PM1.57m | 2:33AM1.51m | 2:51PM1.66m | 3:10AM1.55m | 3:25PM1.70m | 3:44AM1.55m | 3:58PM1.68m | 4:17AM1.52m | 4:29PM1.62m | 4:48AM1.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:02PM0.34m | 7:23AM0.22m | 7:50PM0.20m | 8:04AM0.12m | 8:31PM0.08m | 8:41AM0.05m | 9:08PM0.01m | 9:15AM0.02m | 9:42PM-0.01m | 9:48AM0.03m | 10:15PM0.01m | 10:19AM0.08m | 10:45PM0.07m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 1069 | 454 | 294 | 117 | 172 | 304 | 295 | 563 | 2411 | 1748 | 1226 | 830 | 692 | 372 | 1776 | 2295 | 2298 | 1558 | 1190 | 802 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | S 9 | W 11 | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SSW 9 | — | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
| kJ | — | 303 | 156 | 140 | 140 | 14 | 9 | 190 | — | — | — | — | — | 231 | 121 | — | 178 | 88 | 61 | 108 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 18 | WSW 16 | S 10 | S 9 | W 11 | W 11 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | — | — | S 10 | — | NNW 4 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | — | 13 | 26 | 49 | 27 | 21 | 9 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | 50 | — | 7 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 18 | 13 | — | 37 | 286 | 491 | 707 | 427 | 494 | 426 | 453 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 5 | 340 | 0 | 0 | 379 | 0 | 129 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
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.
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