Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,348 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down Big Bay in feet, miles per hour, and Fahrenheit.
We’ve got a mixed bag here, with some serious power on the way, but you’re going to have to pick your moments. The water temp is 55°F, which is a good 5°F colder than usual for this time of year – that’s a notable chill, so make sure the rubber is thick.
The first real standout is Wednesday, September 2nd, first light. A clean 10ft swell from the SW with a 13-second period, and the combined wave energy is pumping at 3169. That’s proper grunt. The wind is a light cross-off from the south at 6 mph, keeping the faces clean. This is solid, experienced surfer territory – 10ft is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve got the skills, get out there early.
Things get a bit messy after that with strong winds and a drop in quality, but circle Sunday, September 6th, morning. It’s glassy with a light offshore breeze from the ESE, and a long-period 8ft groundswell from the SW with an 18-second period. The energy is right back up at 3495. That’s a long-period swell, so at a beach break like Big Bay it has a tendency to straighten out, but if you can find a rip or a sandbar to channel it, the waves will have heaps of shape and power.
Moving into the second week, there are a couple of promising but less certain days. The morning of Sunday, September 13th, sees a solid 12ft SW groundswell (12 secs) but it’s wrapped in a cross-off breeze at 16 mph – still clean. The energy is 3793. That’s expert-only size.
The big one to circle is Monday, September 14th morning. This is a true standout for the brave. You’ve got an 12ft S groundswell, 11-second period, with a moderate offshore wind from the ESE at 12 mph. The combined wave energy is a massive 4988 – that’s some serious muscle. It’s an excellent, clean window for experienced surfers, but the size is intimidating. Not for beginners.
After that, the wind turns horrible on the 16th and 17th with strong cross-onshore conditions, making a mess of the big swells. No other breaks to mention here, so it’s Big Bay or the couch.
So, the pick of the litter is the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd for the clean, classic lines, and the morning of Monday, September 14th for the raw power, if you can handle it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the SE by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3169 | 2528 | 1700 | 980 | 3075 | 1328 | 800 | 850 | 497 | 434 | 157 | 1459 | 3348 | 1832 | 1343 | 1251 | 1069 | 443 | 230 | 180 | 158 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:19PM1.41m | 6:49AM1.20m | 7:11PM1.27m | 7:57AM1.08m | 8:31PM1.15m | 9:47AM1.03m | 10:28PM1.12m | 11:37AM1.12m | 00:03AM1.20m | 12:46PM1.27m | 1:05AM1.32m | 1:34PM1.43m | 1:53AM1.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:59AM0.28m | 00:39AM0.29m | 12:46PM0.40m | 1:38AM0.41m | 1:56PM0.53m | 3:14AM0.50m | 3:58PM0.59m | 5:14AM0.47m | 5:54PM0.50m | 6:31AM0.35m | 7:02PM0.34m | 7:23AM0.22m | 7:50PM0.20m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SSE 8 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 3169 | 2528 | 1700 | 980 | 566 | 265 | 140 | 93 | 66 | 240 | 157 | 1459 | 3348 | 1832 | 1343 | 1251 | 1069 | 443 | 230 | 180 | 83 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 9 | SSW 9 | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 6 | — | — | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 113 | 138 | — | — | — | 19 | 34 | 125 | 38 | 162 | 147 | 7 | 12 | — | — | 271 | 206 | 133 | 158 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | WSW 26 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 16 | NW 5 | WSW 15 | WSW 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58 | 65 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 7 | 84 | 97 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NNE 2 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 3075 | 1328 | 800 | 850 | 497 | 434 | 123 | 287 | — | — | — | 10 | 16 | 13 | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 1276 | 1438 | 3870 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 34 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 34 |
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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