Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 13 Nov 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 22 Nov, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 22 Nov, 8AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 7,046 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 13 Nov, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s 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 Friday (Nov 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s. 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 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Nov 22) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Monday (Nov 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 13th Nov) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 22nd Nov) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 22nd Nov) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Mon afternoon, light winds from the ESE by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 13 | Saturday 14 | Sunday 15 | Monday 16 | Tuesday 17 | Wednesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 469 | 250 | 398 | 1722 | 2562 | 2316 | 1857 | 1279 | 911 | 503 | 389 | 344 | 905 | 990 | 868 | 868 | 786 | 730 | 600 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:05AM1.29m | 5:11PM1.25m | 5:44AM1.22m | 5:49PM1.16m | 6:29AM1.15m | 6:36PM1.07m | 7:28AM1.10m | 7:42PM1.00m | 8:43AM1.09m | 9:11PM0.98m | 9:58AM1.14m | 10:34PM1.03m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:51PM0.27m | 11:07AM0.40m | 11:25PM0.34m | 11:46AM0.48m | 00:03AM0.42m | 12:34PM0.56m | 00:50AM0.49m | 1:40PM0.62m | 1:54AM0.55m | 3:10PM0.62m | 3:16AM0.57m | 4:33PM0.55m | 4:32AM0.53m | ||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | 7:22 | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 21 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | SW 10 | W 10 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 469 | 250 | 161 | 1722 | 2562 | 2316 | 1857 | 1279 | 911 | 503 | 389 | 344 | 905 | 990 | 868 | 868 | 786 | 730 | 600 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | WSW 10 | SW 12 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | SW 20 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | W 15 | W 15 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 21 | SW 20 |
| kJ | 13 | 170 | 154 | 72 | 31 | 17 | — | — | — | 15 | 91 | 305 | — | 4 | 4 | 113 | 48 | 18 | 97 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | W 16 | — | — | — | W 17 | SW 22 | W 16 | NW 15 |
| kJ | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 6 | 18 | 5 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | SSW 9 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 7 | — | S 7 | S 5 |
| kJ | 45 | — | 398 | 66 | 141 | 483 | 157 | 166 | 312 | 218 | 111 | 191 | 109 | 113 | 366 | 192 | — | 28 | 45 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 39 | 419 | 0 | 129 | 2771 | 0 | 7 | 1266 | 91 | 129 | 419 | 0 | 0 | 2784 | 0 | 34 | 14 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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