
Surf Forecasts:
Cintsa West surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with 961 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cintsa West this week:
The surf forecast for Cintsa West over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 12s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 1.6m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cintsa West in the next 16 days are 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cintsa West over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next stretch at Cintsa West.
The first solid surf shows up on Sunday the 26th of July, but it’s only a marginal call. The swell is coming in at 3ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, so there’s some decent energy behind it (combined energy of 643). The wind is a cross-shore from the NE at 12 mph, which is going to put a bit of a chop on the surface. The water is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. It’s not a write-off, but it’s not a standout either.
Monday the 27th is a bit of a letdown. The swell drops off to 3ft in the morning and then 2ft by the afternoon, and the wind swings to a fresh SW, keeping it cross and lumpy. The conditions are poor, so it’s a stay-on-the-beach kind of day.
Tuesday the 28th is a different beast. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell from the SSE in the morning, but it’s short-period at 8 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. The combined energy is cranking at 1289, but with heavy rain and onshore wind, it’s only for the experts. This one is pushing into the big and messy category, so if you’re not confident, give it a miss.
Now, if you’re looking for the best window, keep your eyes on Thursday the 30th of July. The forecast is showing a glassy morning with a clean 6ft swell from the ESE. That’s a moderate size, but the period is only 9 seconds, so it’s not the deepest groundswell. The combined energy is 944, and with zero wind, the surface is going to be like a mirror. This is the pick of the first week—clean, lined up, and no crowds mentioned so you might get a few waves to yourself.
Friday the 31st of July also shapes up nicely in the morning. Same glassy conditions, 4ft from the ESE, and the energy is at 520. It’s a bit smaller than Thursday, but still a fun size for the intermediate surfer. The afternoon goes cross-onshore, so get out early.
The weekend of the 1st and 2nd of August is a bit of a mixed bag. Saturday has a bumpy 3ft in the morning, then a messy 6ft in the afternoon with a 6-second period—that’s just wind swell, and it’s not going to be pretty. Sunday the 2nd starts with a 7ft ENE swell, but the period is only 8 seconds and the wind is cross at 16 mph, so it’s going to be a battle. The afternoon sees a 3ft SSW swell with a very long 19-second period, which is a classic groundswell, but the cross-wind will spoil it.
The second week gets a bit more interesting. Thursday the 6th of August is a standout for the brave. We’re looking at a 8ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is massive at 3422. That’s a lot of water moving. The wind is cross from the SW at 12 mph, so it’s not clean, but the power is there. This is for the advanced crew only—anything over 8ft is expert territory, and the long period will make it stand up steeply. It’s a bit of a gamble on the wind, but the potential is huge.
The rest of the second week is more marginal. Monday the 10th of August has a clean 5ft in the morning with a light offshore, but the period is only 6 seconds, so it’s not going to have much push. The afternoon goes to 5ft with an 11-second period, which is better, but the wind is cross and the conditions are only marginal.
Overall, the clear winner is Thursday the 30th of July—glassy, clean, and a solid 6ft from the ESE. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. If you’re feeling bold, keep an eye on the 6th of August for the big stuff, but that’s a long-range call so it’s promising but not locked in yet.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 61mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
313 | 449 | 225 | 206 | 961 | 750 | 527 | 633 | 395 | 356 | 535 | 543 | 554 | 336 | 274 | 262 | 304 | 122 | 275 | 392 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | off | cross | cross | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:31PM1.18m | 2:37AM1.30m | 3:06PM1.29m | 3:11AM1.39m | 3:37PM1.39m | 3:42AM1.46m | 4:07PM1.48m | 4:11AM1.52m | 4:35PM1.55m | 4:39AM1.54m | 5:03PM1.60m | 5:07AM1.54m | 5:31PM1.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:27PM0.49m | 8:55AM0.35m | 9:04PM0.39m | 9:25AM0.25m | 9:36PM0.31m | 9:54AM0.16m | 10:07PM0.24m | 10:21AM0.10m | 10:36PM0.20m | 10:48AM0.06m | 11:06PM0.17m | 11:15AM0.05m | 11:36PM0.17m | |||||||
— | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 23 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | E 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 15 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
313 | 106 | 225 | 198 | 961 | 539 | 527 | 354 | 281 | 123 | 535 | 543 | 554 | 333 | 274 | 262 | 304 | 122 | 26 | 37 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | S 7 | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | — | S 25 |
251 | 449 | 62 | 206 | 88 | — | 491 | 633 | 181 | 356 | 390 | 395 | 326 | 336 | 246 | 145 | 57 | 29 | — | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 16 | E 8 | ENE 9 | — | E 8 | — | SSW 14 | E 10 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | — | S 18 |
36 | 18 | 53 | 33 | 25 | — | 13 | — | 395 | 120 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 40 | 55 | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | — | SW 5 | SSW 6 | — | SSE 8 | SE 8 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 |
43 | — | 77 | 117 | — | 750 | 392 | — | 172 | 220 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 59 | 275 | 392 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 262 | 0 | 197 | 262 | 0 | 380 | 380 | 10 | 100 | 105 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 512 | 0 | 297 | 380 | 180 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cintsa West Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cintsa West provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cintsa West can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cintsa West 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 (Cintsa West) 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 Cintsa West 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 Eastern Cape - Wild Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Cintsa West, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, consider staying in East London which is 28 km (17 miles) away. Other places in and around Eastern Cape - Wild Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Butterworth which is 56 km (35 miles) away, Stutterheim and Bisho.










