Cintsa West surfForecast / Eastern Cape – Wild Coast / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 am Saturday 16 May 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Cintsa West surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Cintsa West sea temperature is
20.6° C
(Which is 1.9°C colder than average for this time of year)

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 (May 16) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cintsa West in the next 16 days are 1.8m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 16) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Thursday (May 21) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sat 16th May)6ft (1.8m) 13s
Best Surf11AM (Sat 16th May)6ft (1.8m) 13s
Most Powerful11AM (Sat 16th May)6ft (1.8m) 13s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed afternoon).

Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
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
1
3
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
0
0
2
1
2
1
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
S
13
1.6
S
12
1.5
S
12
1.1
S
11
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.8
S
12
0.5
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
13
1.1
S
8
1.4
S
8
1.2
SSE
8
1.4
E
6
2
E
7
1.7
ENE
7
1.8
ENE
7
1.2
E
8
0.9
E
8
0.6
E
12
0.7
E
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1077
784
636
308
185
162
160
174
144
137
161
270
159
127
408
301
355
187
102
101
125
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
15
E
15
NNE
10
NNE
10
NE
10
W
10
SSW
10
SSW
5
NW
5
ESE
10
E
10
NE
25
ENE
30
ENE
10
ENE
15
NE
10
NE
15
W
10
SSW
10
SSW
10
W
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
3:25PM1.55m
3:40AM1.74m
4:06PM1.57m
4:22AM1.70m
4:49PM1.56m
5:06AM1.61m
5:34PM1.50m
5:51AM1.49m
6:24PM1.42m
6:40AM1.34m
7:22PM1.33m
7:38AM1.20m
8:34PM1.25m
Low Tide
9:17AM0.01m
9:24PM0.06m
9:57AM-0.01m
10:07PM0.06m
10:38AM0.03m
10:51PM0.12m
11:21AM0.10m
11:39PM0.21m
12:06PM0.19m
00:31AM0.34m
12:56PM0.30m
1:33AM0.46m
1:55PM0.41m
2:53AM0.56m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:50
6:52
6:52
6:52
6:54
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:14
5:14
5:13
5:13
1
1
Temp °C
20
20
16
24
26
20
21
22
18
21
21
19
22
23
21
22
25
19
22
22
18
20
18
15
21
24
19
20
22
19
22
21
21
19
20
18
20
23
20
21
20
19
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
S
13
1.6
S
12
1.5
S
12
1.1
S
11
0.9
E
6
0.8
E
7
0.8
S
11
0.8
S
12
0.7
S
11
0.6
S
8
1.1
S
8
1.4
S
8
1.2
SSE
8
0.9
SSE
7
1.7
E
7
1.5
E
7
1.5
E
7
1.2
E
8
0.9
E
8
0.8
E
8
0.7
E
11
Energy kJ
1077
784
636
308
60
56
160
174
119
44
161
270
159
84
320
230
242
187
102
74
125
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
11
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
10
0.6
E
5
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.8
E
7
0.7
E
7
0.6
E
7
0.6
SSW
13
0.5
SSE
13
0.7
SSE
13
0.5
SSE
12
0.5
SSE
12
0.6
S
11
0.6
S
15
0.5
S
14
0.6
S
12
0.6
S
11
0.6
S
11
0.5
S
10
Energy kJ
9
6
8
20
185
144
56
44
34
137
101
140
83
81
85
153
91
102
85
84
50
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
11
0.1
SW
14
0.2
ENE
10
0.4
SE
6
0.6
SSE
14
0.7
SSE
12
0.4
SSE
13
0.3
SW
15
0.5
SSW
16
0.5
E
6
0.5
E
7
0.5
E
6
0.4
E
9
0.2
S
19
0.5
S
16
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
E
14
0.4
ESE
13
0.5
E
12
0.6
E
12
0.2
SSW
11
Energy kJ
11
8
9
13
145
162
60
33
144
21
22
22
23
30
133
29
32
56
75
101
12
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
8
0.8
NE
4
0.9
ENE
5
1.1
ENE
6
0.3
SW
3
0.9
ENE
6
1.4
E
6
2
E
7
1.7
ENE
7
1.8
ENE
7
0.4
SW
3
0.6
SSW
5
1.1
SSW
6
1
SW
6
Energy kJ
7
16
42
92
1
52
127
408
301
355
4
15
94
71
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
4
2
3
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
0
380
0
0
43
0
1
1
0
0
424
0
431
295
271
131
29
1
1
1
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
6
7
4
7
4
4
4
4
7
4
9
9
9
9
9
5
6
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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