Surf Forecasts:
Big Bay surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 6,514 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 12s period. 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 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a solid run of swell heading our way, so don’t go putting your boards away just yet.
The pattern kicks off on Saturday the 25th of July with a solid pulse. We’re looking at 8ft of SW groundswell, with a 12-second period, rolling into Big Bay. The water is sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want that 4/3. The combined energy is strong, hitting 1814. It’s a clean, cross-off light breeze, but this is a powerful one – over 8ft, so this is for experienced surfers only. The easterly glass-off on Sunday morning the 26th is a true standout. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft, but with the wind going totally glassy, the waves will be smooth as silk. That’s your best session of the early run.
Monday the 27th picks up again, but the wind really cranks up from the SSE at 22 mph, making conditions messy. The swell is still a solid 8ft with a 16-second period, but it’s a cross-off, punchy wind. The energy is very strong (3253), but it’s a battle. The rest of the week into early August sees a gradual drop in size, but the wind stays light and variable, keeping things clean. Tuesday the 28th has a nice 8ft SW swell with a gentle offshore wind, a great day for intermediate to advanced surfers. The waves will be well-shaped.
After a few smaller days, we get a noticeable pulse on the 3rd of August, but it arrives with a cross-onshore wind, so it’s not ideal. The real standout of the second week is Friday the 7th of August. We’re looking at a solid 10ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period, and the morning is glassy. The combined energy is massive at 3456. This is big, powerful, and it will be a classic for the experienced crew. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecasts, but it has the potential to be the best day of the whole window. The weekend that follows, the 8th and 9th, looks clean and fun as the swell drops back to a more manageable 6ft to 7ft, with glassy conditions on the Sunday morning.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, strong winds from the SSE by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1789 | 1632 | 1172 | 977 | 734 | 3253 | 3715 | 2814 | 2119 | 2032 | 1367 | 1050 | 865 | 772 | 619 | 600 | 537 | 373 | 273 | 213 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:14AM1.17m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:56AM1.25m | 2:29PM1.27m | 2:33AM1.32m | 3:02PM1.36m | 3:06AM1.38m | 3:33PM1.43m | 3:38AM1.41m | 4:03PM1.49m | 4:09AM1.43m | 4:33PM1.52m | 4:41AM1.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:16PM0.54m | 7:43AM0.38m | 7:59PM0.45m | 8:20AM0.30m | 8:36PM0.38m | 8:52AM0.23m | 9:09PM0.31m | 9:22AM0.17m | 9:40PM0.25m | 9:50AM0.13m | 10:11PM0.22m | 10:18AM0.12m | 10:42PM0.20m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — |
 | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 1789 | 1632 | 1172 | 977 | 734 | 3253 | 3715 | 2814 | 2119 | 2032 | 1367 | 1050 | 865 | 772 | 619 | 600 | 537 | 373 | 273 | 213 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 12 | — | — | — | — | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | S 7 |
| kJ | 25 | — | 226 | 220 | 412 | — | — | — | — | 124 | 48 | 35 | 10 | — | — | — | 41 | 14 | 15 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 11 | SSW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 20 | 195 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 27 | 88 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 3 | S 5 | S 4 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | SE 7 | S 4 | S 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 5 | 59 | 28 | 766 | 395 | 202 | 228 | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 31 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 223 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.
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