Surf Forecasts:
Black Rocks surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 6,363 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Black Rocks in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Black Rocks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the next couple of weeks for Black Rocks. This is a reef break, advanced only, and it’s inconsistent, but when it turns on, it’s a proper wave. Water temp is 60°F, which is about average for the year.
Things start slow. Monday, July 20th has a 5ft SW swell in the morning, but it’s messy with a cross-offshore wind. Afternoon drops to 4ft and is still nothing special.
Tuesday, July 21st is the big day. Tuesday morning is the one. You’ve got a 8ft SW swell, a long 14-second period, and glassy wind. The wave energy is pumping at 2108, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. That’s over 8ft, so it’s for experts only. The afternoon is a 8ft with a cross-shore wind, so get in the water early.
Wednesday, July 22nd is still good. The morning has a 6ft SW swell with offshore wind and clean conditions.
Thursday, July 23rd sees the swell at 7ft from the WSW, but the wind is cross-offshore and there’s light rain.
Then the wind turns ugly. From Friday, July 24th through Sunday, July 26th, it’s cross-onshore and strong, making it lumpy and poor. The swell is big – 10ft on Friday morning – but it’s a mess. This looks more like a kiteboarding day than a paddle session.
Monday, July 27th is still windy, with a 5ft swell.
Tuesday, July 28th brings a massive 12ft SW swell, but the wind is messy again. The energy is huge (3249 in the morning, 4512 in the afternoon), but it’s not clean.
Wednesday, July 29th is another charger’s day. The morning has a 10ft SSW swell with a 14-second period and offshore wind. That’s for experts only, but it’s a good one.
The rest of the run into early August is mostly big, windy, and marginal. There’s a window on Sunday, August 2nd morning with a 5ft SSW swell and moderate offshore wind, which is a nice little clean-up session, but it’s small.
The real standout is that Tuesday morning, July 21st. Glassy, groundswell, and a solid 8ft. That’s the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the SE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | SW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 359 | 153 | 314 | 2066 | 2067 | 1302 | 1059 | 1129 | 396 | 1165 | 876 | 6363 | 3912 | 2926 | 1990 | 1659 | 1323 | 960 | 840 | 786 | 678 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:44PM1.31m | 8:12AM1.07m | 8:35PM1.19m | 9:19AM1.00m | 9:42PM1.11m | 10:47AM0.97m | 11:05PM1.08m | 12:11PM1.01m | 00:19AM1.11m | 1:11PM1.09m | 1:14AM1.17m | 1:54PM1.18m | 1:57AM1.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:20PM0.39m | 2:13AM0.43m | 2:07PM0.50m | 3:13AM0.51m | 3:11PM0.60m | 4:33AM0.55m | 4:45PM0.64m | 5:57AM0.53m | 6:15PM0.61m | 6:59AM0.47m | 7:15PM0.54m | 7:44AM0.39m | 7:59PM0.46m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 359 | 153 | 77 | 2066 | 2067 | 1302 | 1059 | 1129 | 396 | 1165 | 876 | 6363 | 3912 | 2926 | 1990 | 1659 | 1323 | 960 | 840 | 786 | 678 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SE 13 | SSW 19 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSW 18 | S 17 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 87 | 99 | 314 | 42 | 19 | 18 | 11 | 152 | 235 | 7 | 465 | 37 | 35 | 360 | 277 | 867 | 757 | 23 | 5 | 223 | 264 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | W 10 | SW 12 | WNW 9 | W 9 | — | S 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — | SE 11 | ESE 11 | — | — | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 23 | 67 | 178 | 26 | 14 | — | 4 | 8 | 7 | 42 | 6 | — | — | 20 | 12 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 21 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 2 | WNW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | WNW 5 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | — | — | NW 2 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 66 | 19 | — | — | — | 12 | 27 | 29 | 76 | 47 | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 31 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 39 | 22 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
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.
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