Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 7,237 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start with Monday, July 20th, offering only marginal, small surf – not worth paddling out for. The real action kicks off Tuesday, July 21st, and we’ve got a solid run of clean, punchy SW groundswell.
The standout window is from Tuesday through Friday. On Tuesday morning, Big Bay will be seeing a solid 8ft SW swell with a 14-second period, under clean, cross-off SSE winds. That’s proper, powerful groundswell. The energy is strong (2210), and the water temp is sitting at 58°, which is just a touch cooler than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit. Wednesday morning is the absolute gem: 7ft SW swell, 12 seconds, and glassy conditions with a WNW breeze. That’s about as clean as it gets. The combined energy is moderate to strong (1424). Thursday afternoon sees a return of offshore wind (SE) with a 7ft SW swell, offering another clean session. But if you want the biggest bang for your buck, Friday July 24th is the peak. An 12ft SW groundswell (14-second period) rolls in with light cross-off winds, delivering massive energy (4749 on the morning session). This is big, powerful surf – only for experienced surfers in the know.
Over the weekend, the swell drops a notch but stays fun. Saturday morning offers a clean 6ft SW swell with offshore ESE winds, and Sunday afternoon turns glassy again with a 7ft SW swell. Good opportunities for intermediates.
Now, we hit a rough patch starting Monday, July 27th. Strong NW winds whip up the ocean, making things messy and lumpy. The swell is still solid (7ft to 13ft), but the quality is poor, and the cross-on winds ruin any chance of a clean wave. This continues through to the end of the first week of August, with strong onshore winds and rain showers. The energy is there, but it’s a battle. For the beginning of August, the surf is small and blown out, with nothing worth the effort.
To sum it up: make your move Tuesday through Friday for the best, cleanest, and most powerful swell. After that, it’s a write-off for a solid week.
Stay stoked, and I’ll see you out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | SW 8 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 488 | 286 | 258 | 2171 | 2426 | 1799 | 1381 | 1189 | 488 | 1358 | 753 | 7237 | 4749 | 3773 | 2693 | 1112 | 1525 | 1131 | 1130 | 1074 | 961 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | cross | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 7:45PM1.31m | 8:15AM1.07m | 8:37PM1.19m | 9:22AM1.00m | 9:43PM1.11m | 10:48AM0.98m | 11:05PM1.08m | 12:11PM1.02m | 00:19AM1.11m | 1:10PM1.09m | 1:14AM1.17m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:56AM1.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:21PM0.39m | 2:14AM0.43m | 2:09PM0.51m | 3:14AM0.51m | 3:14PM0.60m | 4:34AM0.55m | 4:48PM0.64m | 5:57AM0.53m | 6:16PM0.61m | 6:58AM0.46m | 7:16PM0.54m | 7:43AM0.38m | 7:59PM0.45m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 488 | 286 | 98 | 2171 | 2426 | 1799 | 1381 | 1189 | 488 | 1358 | 753 | 7237 | 4749 | 3773 | 2693 | 1112 | 1525 | 1131 | 1130 | 1074 | 961 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | SW 16 | W 9 | W 9 | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | — | WSW 12 | — | — | SSW 18 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | — | SW 15 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 89 | 120 | 258 | 39 | 14 | — | 43 | 115 | 308 | — | 237 | — | — | 214 | — | 880 | 317 | 246 | — | 255 | 258 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 50 | 120 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 299 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 75 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 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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