Surf Forecasts:
Boneyards surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 4,464 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Boneyards this week:
The surf forecast for Boneyards over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Boneyards in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Boneyards over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next stretch.
The standout for this run is a solid, long-period southwest groundswell that’s going to pulse through Boneyards, a reef set-up that really needs that west in the swell to work its magic. The water is sitting at 58°F and is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t be shy with the rubber.
Thursday the 20th kicks off with a strong 12ft swell from the SW, a 13-second period, and a south-southeast cross-off breeze. The water temp is a touch cooler than average at 58°F, but the waves are clean and the energy is pumping (3903). That said, 12ft is big – this is one for experienced surfers only. Friday morning, the 21st, drops a little to 7ft from the SW with an offshore from the SE, making for some proper, lined-up waves for the crew that know what they’re doing. The energy is still strong (1442). Saturday and Sunday are a bit of a write-off – onshore winds and messy conditions – so give those a miss.
Tuesday the 25th is a real highlight. Morning sees a 7ft SW swell, a 14-second period, and a clean offshore from the ESE. The energy is pumping (2251), and the waves should be holding good shape. The afternoon holds similar with 7ft and a WSW direction, still offshore. This is the pick of the first week.
Into the second week, the swell stays solid but the winds get feistier. The 28th of August brings a 8ft WSW swell with a 15-second period, but a fresh SSE cross-off has the surface clean. The energy is huge (3398), but that 15-second period is a proper groundswell – it’ll be best handled at this reef, as beach breaks might get a bit too straight and walled. The 29th holds 10ft, but the wind is getting stronger. By the 30th, a near-gale offshore from the SE will make paddling out a mission, even if the waves are big and clean. Only for the hardcore.
The absolute standout, though, is Thursday the 3rd of September. Glassy conditions, an 12ft WSW swell, a 14-second period, and no wind to speak of. The energy is massive (4443), and the reef will be handling it beautifully. You’d be a fool to miss that morning session. Friday the 4th keeps it going with 10ft and light cross-off winds, still excellent.
Boneyards is inconsistent, so when it fires, you get on it. But with that much size in the water, it’s strictly for experienced surfers. If you’re a beginner, sit this one out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue night, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Mon night, light winds from the NNE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 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 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3903 | 2536 | 1713 | 947 | 458 | 392 | 560 | 752 | 1969 | 1442 | 1622 | 1158 | 891 | 370 | 1154 | 1922 | 1487 | 1093 | 775 | 566 | 374 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:04AM0.99m | 8:30PM1.04m | 9:46AM0.92m | 10:24PM0.98m | 11:55AM0.96m | 00:06AM1.03m | 12:59PM1.06m | 1:02AM1.13m | 1:37PM1.18m | 1:41AM1.24m | 2:08PM1.31m | 2:13AM1.33m | 2:37PM1.42m | 2:44AM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:55PM0.63m | 3:17AM0.62m | 3:49PM0.70m | 5:32AM0.61m | 6:07PM0.66m | 6:46AM0.52m | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:27AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | 7:59AM0.31m | 8:17PM0.34m | 8:27AM0.21m | 8:46PM0.25m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 3903 | 2536 | 1713 | 947 | 458 | 392 | 560 | 752 | 1969 | 1442 | 1622 | 1158 | 891 | 370 | 1154 | 1922 | 1487 | 1093 | 775 | 566 | 374 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | — | SW 14 | WSW 12 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 495 | 310 | 291 | 176 | 27 | 292 | 296 | — | 51 | 322 | 288 | 313 | 329 | 382 | 317 | 317 | 387 | 167 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | SW 15 | WSW 11 | — | SSW 10 | W 17 | SSE 6 | W 21 | SW 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 118 | — | — | — | 289 | — | — | — | 109 | 194 | — | 20 | 6 | 22 | 9 | 97 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 4 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | — | — | SE 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 11 | 77 | 67 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 6 | 28 | 24 | 48 | 177 | 239 | 256 | 124 | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 80 | 349 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Boneyards Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Boneyards provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Boneyards can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Boneyards 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 (Boneyards) 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 Boneyards 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 Boneyards, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 26 km (16 miles) away. Other places in and around Cape Town where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Robben Island which is 37 km (23 miles) away, Bellville, Kayamnandi and Stellenbosch.
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