Cintsa West Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.83° S 28.12° E

Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cintsa West sea temperature is
18.9°C
0.8° 

Cintsa West surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cintsa West surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ENE swell with 1,578 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with ENE 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 12s 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sat 29th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf 5AM (Sat 29th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 29th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cintsa West over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G'day, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming up for Cintsa West. It's a point break that can be inconsistent, but when it fires, it's a beauty. The first solid swell is on the way.

We've got a bit of a wait, but Saturday the 29th of August is the kick-off. The morning session is the standout early on. The swell is a solid 10 ft from the ENE, with a combined swell energy of 2269—that's strong, powerful stuff. It's got a 10-second period, so it's got some grunt, but it's not the longest period, so it should still peel nicely down the point. The wind is a light 9 mph from the north, crossing offshore, which will keep the waves clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, as anything over 8 ft is for experts only. The water temp is 66°, which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year (anomaly of -1°), so maybe a thicker steamer is the go. This is the pick of the early window.

The weekend slackens off quickly. Sunday the 30th sees the swell drop to 3 ft with onshore cross-winds from the SW at 12 mph, making for poor, choppy conditions. Monday and Tuesday are similar—small, weak swells around 3 ft to 3 ft, with onshore or cross-onshore wind. Not worth paddling out, honestly. This quiet stretch lingers until Wednesday the 2nd of September.

Wednesday the 2nd of September shows a pulse of longer-period swell (14 seconds) from the SSW, but the wave heights are only 5 ft to 5 ft. The combined energy is moderate (799), and it's cross-onshore with a gentle breeze, so the quality is marginal. Still, that longer period will offer better shape, especially at a point break like this.

Now, Thursday the 3rd of September morning is something to circle. We get glassy conditions with no wind at all and a fun 7 ft swell from the SSE. The period is short at 7 seconds, so it's more of a windswell, but glassy conditions at Cintsa West with chest-to-head-high waves should be very good.

Looking further out, the real standout is way off in the second week. Thursday the 10th of September is massive. The morning sees a 13 ft swell from the East with a combined energy of 3480—that's very strong. The period is 10 seconds, and the wind is a light 6 mph from the SSW, crossing nicely. This is absolute expert territory; anything over 8 ft is for big-wave chargers only. The afternoon holds similar size but picks up a cross-onshore that will chop it up. This is the one to wait for, but remember it's a long-range forecast, so keep an eye on it as we get closer. There will be a massive, messy NE wind on the 11th of September at 22-25 mph, so you’ll want to be out of the water that day.

The very end of the run, on Sunday the 13th of September, offers another glassy morning session with a glassy morning and 5 ft waves from the East, which will be a very clean and pleasant surf.

So, to sum it up: the absolute best bet is the morning of Saturday the 29th of August for the expert crew, and the highly promising, but less certain, big swell on the morning of Thursday the 10th of September.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 33°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat night, calm by Mon morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
1
0
1
2
1
0
3
0
0
1
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
ENE
10
2.5
ENE
10
1.4
ENE
10
0.9
ENE
10
0.9
ENE
10
1
E
10
0.9
E
10
0.7
S
12
0.8
E
9
0.8
E
10
0.8
SSW
13
1.1
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
14
1.5
SSW
13
1.1
SSW
12
2.1
SSE
7
2.2
S
8
1
S
16
1.3
SSW
14
1.4
S
13
1.7
S
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1514
1249
402
154
154
198
154
142
113
117
192
396
714
732
386
372
538
516
734
633
1262
Wind (km/h)
15
N
5
NE
15
SW
20
SW
15
SW
10
W
5
SE
10
ENE
10
N
10
S
15
S
20
WSW
5
SSE
15
ENE
20
NE
0
SSW
30
SSE
15
S
15
SSE
10
ESE
15
ENE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
on
cross-on
on
on
cross
High Tide
4:34PM1.73m
4:42AM1.62m
5:01PM1.74m
5:11AM1.59m
5:30PM1.71m
5:41AM1.52m
6:01PM1.63m
6:14AM1.42m
6:36PM1.50m
6:51AM1.28m
7:18PM1.34m
7:41AM1.12m
8:23PM1.17m
Low Tide
10:19AM-0.01m
10:41PM0.05m
10:46AM-0.02m
11:10PM0.05m
11:14AM0.01m
11:40PM0.09m
11:44AM0.08m
00:13AM0.18m
12:17PM0.19m
00:51AM0.31m
12:55PM0.34m
1:39AM0.46m
1:48PM0.51m
3:01AM0.60m
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
mod rain
mod rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:24
6:22
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:47
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:50
5:51
5:51
 mm
1
3
2
2
8
7
1
Temp °C
33
32
19
18
16
15
18
18
16
20
21
17
19
19
18
21
20
17
16
16
16
Feels °C
30
30
15
16
13
12
17
17
15
19
20
16
18
17
15
23
18
13
12
13
13
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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