
Surf Forecasts:
Black Rocks surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,470 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Black Rocks this week:
The surf forecast for Black Rocks over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Black Rocks in the next 16 days are 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Black Rocks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range look ahead.
We’ve got a tricky one on our hands. The first real chance of a surfable wave isn’t until Wednesday the 29th of July, and even then it’s not a classic. There’s a long gap of nothing but wind and chop before that. The water temperature is sitting at 60°, which is about average for this time of year, so won't need the thickest rubber.
The standout moment in this whole 16-day window is a very specific window on Wednesday afternoon, the 29th. Black Rocks is an inconsistent, expert-level reef break, and when it turns on, it’s a different beast. That afternoon, the swell will be a clean 5ft from the SW with a 13-second period. The wind goes light and cross-offshore from the SSW, which will have the place looking like glass. This is the best it’s going to get, but remember, it’s an advanced wave. The combined swell energy is moderate (787).
Leading up to that, Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are a write-off. The 27th shows a 8ft SW swell with a very long 17-second period, but you can forget it – the wind is screaming from the SE at 22-31 mph, turning the ocean into a washing machine with near gale force cross-onshore conditions (combined energy of 3457-3694). That’s too big and blown out for anyone.
The wind lays off on Saturday the 1st of August. The morning is a bit messy with a cross-on breeze, but the afternoon sees a 4ft SW swell with a cross-off wind from the WSW. It’s clean, but the size is on the small side for this powerful reef.
The next little moment is on the 7th of August. Friday morning has a 4ft SW swell, and the wind goes completely glassy (0 mph from NNW). For a reef that needs it clean, this is a rare, special call. Combined energy is weak (372) but the conditions will be perfect.
The long-range window around the 10th of August is interesting but a gamble. It’s showing a 6ft SW swell with a very long 17-second period, but the wind is a fresh to strong cross-offshore breeze. The swell has some grunt (combined energy of 1788), but those winds are going to make the paddle-out a mission.
So, the bottom line: it’s a patchy outlook. You’ve got one perfect afternoon on the 29th, a clean but small window on the 1st of August, and a glassy morning on the 7th. For a break that’s rarely working and always a bit fickle, you take the good days when they come. Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sun morning, near gales from the ESE by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the SE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
826 | 687 | 971 | 3457 | 3010 | 2325 | 1785 | 1559 | 1042 | 757 | 757 | 679 | 594 | 543 | 459 | 277 | 228 | 180 | 404 | 411 | 277 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 1:54PM1.18m | 1:57AM1.25m | 2:30PM1.27m | 2:33AM1.32m | 3:03PM1.35m | 3:07AM1.38m | 3:33PM1.43m | 3:38AM1.42m | 4:03PM1.49m | 4:09AM1.43m | 4:33PM1.52m | 4:40AM1.43m | 5:03PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:59PM0.46m | 8:21AM0.31m | 8:36PM0.38m | 8:53AM0.23m | 9:09PM0.31m | 9:22AM0.17m | 9:40PM0.26m | 9:51AM0.13m | 10:11PM0.22m | 10:19AM0.11m | 10:42PM0.20m | 10:47AM0.12m | 11:13PM0.20m | ||||||||
7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SE 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
826 | 687 | 971 | 3457 | 3010 | 2325 | 1785 | 1559 | 1042 | 757 | 757 | 679 | 594 | 543 | 459 | 277 | 228 | 65 | 404 | 411 | 277 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | — | — | W 18 | WSW 17 | SW 11 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
279 | 357 | 387 | — | — | — | — | — | 77 | 67 | 30 | 16 | 2 | — | — | 6 | 28 | 180 | 88 | 74 | 43 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 15 | SSE 6 | SE 10 | SSW 9 |
10 | 9 | 347 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 150 | 13 | 16 | 16 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | — | — | NNW 3 |
— | — | — | — | 684 | 664 | 440 | 466 | 174 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 60 | 58 | 91 | — | — | — | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 22 | 22 | 35 | 221 | 39 | 33 | 33 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 22 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Black Rocks Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Black Rocks provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Black Rocks can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Black Rocks 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 (Black Rocks) 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 Black Rocks 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Cape Town? If you are looking for accommodation near Black Rocks, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 40 km (25 miles) away. Other places in and around Cape Town where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Bellville which is 46 km (29 miles) away, Stellenbosch, Grabouw and Kayamnandi.










