
Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, WSW swell with 3,378 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 13s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. 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 2.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what we’ve got cookin’ at Big Bay over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, starting right off the bat with some proper groundswell. Don’t let the moderate energy readings fool you at first—there’s some serious juice in the water.
Tuesday, August 11th kicks things off with a clean 7 ft SSW groundswell, period a punchy 12 seconds. Wind is a light offshore breeze from the ESE, making for some really clean face. This is solid intermediate territory, maybe a touch much for beginners at 7 ft. The wave energy is already respectable at (1188). We see it clean up even more for the Tuesday afternoon session, dropping a touch to 5 ft but with the same quality—light offshore breeze from the East, glassy conditions. A great way to start.
Now, Wednesday, August 12th holds a little secret. The morning looks a bit mixed with cross-offshore wind, but by Wednesday afternoon, we get a beautiful 6 ft SSW swell with a *very long* 18-second period. The energy jumps to (2122) and the wind goes glassy offshore from the ESE. This is the kind of long-period groundswell that will really push through at high tide and wrap in nicely. It’s going to be a standout session—smooth, powerful lines.
The Friday, August 14th afternoon is special. The swell settles a little to 6 ft from the WSW, but the wind goes dead flat—glassy, calm, absolute perfection. Period is still a healthy 14 seconds. Total energy reads (1393). This is a window of pure, clean, rippable surf. The Saturday morning, August 15th is similar with light winds, but the real treat is the Sunday morning, August 16th: completely glassy, 5 ft clean WSW swell. You won’t need a hood, and the water is about average for this time of year.
If you’re an experienced surfer, lock in Tuesday, August 18th. We’re talking a solid 10 ft SW groundswell with a 12-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the South. Energy is pumping at (2581). This is big, powerful, and clean—expert territory. Not for the faint of heart.
There’s a bit of a lull from around Thursday, August 20th through Friday, August 21st where things drop right off, with smaller swells and some choppy winds. Nothing worth paddling out for.
But then it fires back up. Saturday, August 22nd morning is glassy with a 6 ft WSW groundswell and a very juicy 15-second period. The real bomb, though, is Sunday, August 23rd morning: an 8 ft WSW groundswell with a solid 15-second period, clean offshore breeze from the SE, and the energy reading is a massive (3219). The score is a true standout. This is the best session of the whole outlook—big, clean, and powerful. It’s going to be a serious draw, and with “often” crowds, you better be early.
Remember, at over 8 ft, this is only for the experts. That long period will be best at the point and reef sections, as it can get a bit straight on the beach.
Wednesday, August 26th morning finishes the run with a clean 6 ft SW swell, 14-second period, and a nice cross-offshore breeze from the SE keeping it tidy.
So, get on it early this week—the first weekend is glassy gold, and that Sunday the 23rd is the one to circle on the calendar. As always, the long-range stuff looks promising but less certain.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
2088 | 1140 | 730 | 1850 | 1922 | 1952 | 2160 | 3378 | 2450 | 1743 | 1337 | 1393 | 1286 | 1196 | 1144 | 1028 | 1047 | 1299 | 2310 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | |||||||
— | 7:28 | — | — | 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 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
2088 | 1140 | 730 | 1850 | 1922 | 1952 | 2160 | 3378 | 2450 | 1743 | 1337 | 1393 | 1286 | 1196 | 1144 | 1028 | 1047 | 1299 | 2310 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 24 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 18 |
76 | 21 | 381 | 207 | 216 | 106 | 1167 | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 104 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 26 | WSW 10 | SSE 9 | SW 10 | SW 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 27 | 19 | 116 | 106 | 64 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 255 | — | — | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 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.











