Surf Forecasts:
Cave Rock surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with 1,177 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cave Rock this week:
The surf forecast for Cave Rock over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cave Rock in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cave Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. The water’s sitting at about 71°F — normal for this time of year, nothing wild.
The session to circle is Thursday morning, August 13th. Swell around 6ft coming from the ESE, period about 8 seconds, and the wind is glassy — just 5 km/h out of the east. That means clean, lined-up waves. The combined energy is moderate at 532, so there’s enough push. This is your best bet by far.
After that, it’s downhill. Thursday afternoon fades, and from Friday through the weekend, the wind picks up, staying cross or cross-off, with swell between 4ft and 6ft and periods around 10–11 seconds. It’s not totally flat, but the chop kills it. Saturday and Sunday are marginal, with moderate cross-shore winds and a bumpy surface.
By Monday the 17th, the wind goes cross-on and the quality drops. From Tuesday the 18th onward, there’s a long stretch of bad conditions — fresh winds, lumpy seas, and tiny swell. Even when longer period energy shows up late August (15–19 seconds), the wave heights are under 3ft and the wind is all wrong. Not worth it.
So, one clear standout: Thursday morning the 13th. Everything else is a rest day.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 624 | 470 | 811 | 973 | 659 | 409 | 196 | 171 | 279 | 342 | 566 | 588 | 757 | 855 | 711 | 757 | 639 | 459 | 379 | 262 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:12PM1.86m | 3:25AM1.88m | 3:50PM2.00m | 4:03AM1.96m | 4:26PM2.07m | 4:37AM2.00m | 4:59PM2.09m | 5:10AM1.98m | 5:30PM2.06m | 5:41AM1.91m | 6:00PM1.97m | 6:10AM1.80m | 6:29PM1.85m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:21PM0.35m | 9:36AM0.20m | 9:59PM0.24m | 10:12AM0.12m | 10:35PM0.18m | 10:45AM0.09m | 11:08PM0.18m | 11:17AM0.12m | 11:39PM0.23m | 11:47AM0.20m | 00:10AM0.33m | 12:15PM0.32m | 00:39AM0.45m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — |
mm | 4 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 469 | 470 | 811 | 973 | 659 | 409 | 196 | 171 | 279 | 342 | 566 | 588 | 757 | 855 | 711 | 757 | 639 | 459 | 379 | 262 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 11 | SSW 10 | S 11 | E 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 10 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 273 | 450 | 440 | 24 | 37 | 82 | 167 | 112 | 50 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | E 10 | SE 9 | S 24 | S 12 | S 23 | S 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 20 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 156 | 379 | 29 | 11 | 24 | 41 | 49 | 127 | 61 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | — | SSW 4 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 624 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 21 | 16 | 25 | 44 | 41 | 69 | 62 | — | 3 | 30 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 811 | 899 | 899 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cave Rock Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cave Rock provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cave Rock can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cave Rock 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 (Cave Rock) 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 Cave Rock 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 Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Cave Rock, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, consider staying in Durban which is 6 km (4 miles) away. Other places in and around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal South Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Glenwood which is 8 km (5 miles) away, Umlazi, Kwamashu and Umhlanga.
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