
Surf Forecasts:
Cintsa West surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, E swell with 1,082 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with ESE 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 (Sep 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 20th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
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 Cintsa West has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
The honest truth is, we're looking at a pretty grim start with no real surf to get stoked on. The first recommendation doesn't pop up until Thursday morning the 17th, and even that's a marginal call. There's a big gap of nothing good from now until then. The water is sitting at 63°F which is a whopping 5°F colder than normal for this time of year, so you're going to want a thick wetsuit if you're even thinking about getting in.
The only break on offer is Cintsa West, an intermediate point break that's inconsistent and can get crowded sometimes. It's exposed to the swell, and it needs that ESE to SE direction to work properly.
Let's walk through the dates. On Wednesday the 16th, there's no surf. The wind is howling from the SW at 16 mph, making it a nasty cross-shore mess. Forget about it.
Thursday the 17th is when things might just start to become rideable. Morning sees a weak 3 ft easterly swell with moderate onshore wind at 6 mph. The combined energy is weak (436), so it's not going to be great. The afternoon is a touch better with the wind turning onshore but still light, and the swell bumps up to 5 ft with moderate energy (593). It's marginal, not a standout.
Friday the 18th is a write-off. The swell jumps up to 7 ft, but it's a short-period 9-second windswell with a strong 1451 energy reading. The cross-onshore wind is 16 mph, so it will be a choppy, blown-out mess. Not worth it.
Saturday the 19th has the biggest surf of the run so far, with an 8 ft easterly swell (2089 energy) on the morning session. That's pushing into expert-only territory for size. The wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-shore, so it might be clean for a crew of experienced surfers, but honestly, it's still marginal and the period is short on that peak.
Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st offer a bit more hope. Sunday morning sees a 7 ft easterly swell with light 6 mph winds coming onshore, so it's not clean. But Monday morning is the one bright spot: a 7 ft swell from the ESE with a light cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 9 mph. The report says "clean," which is exactly what we want. The energy is moderate (966). It's the best we've seen, but still a far cry from pumping. The afternoon goes back to poor.
From Tuesday the 22nd all the way through to Wednesday the 30th of September, it's a long stretch of marginal to poor conditions. Swells come and go, mostly under 5 ft, with onshore winds and lumpy seas. Not a single standout session.
The last few days of the forecast, into Thursday the 1st of October, are just poor surf again with a weak 4 ft easterly swell and moderate cross-shore winds. It's a flat ending to a pretty average outlook.
The only window that's even close to worth paddling out for is Monday morning, the 21st of September. That 7 ft, clean, ESE swell with the cross-offshore wind is the pick of the bunch. For an inconsistent point break, if it blesses us with a set, it'll be the best we get.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 82mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 17°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
333 | 290 | 259 | 210 | 386 | 629 | 685 | 724 | 699 | 1082 | 971 | 855 | 645 | 386 | 414 | 498 | 298 | 173 | 210 | 339 | 245 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:12PM1.38m | 6:24AM1.23m | 6:37PM1.23m | 6:50AM1.09m | 7:05PM1.08m | 7:30AM0.95m | 8:11PM0.94m | 12:16PM0.91m | 00:32AM0.98m | 1:21PM1.06m | 1:23AM1.12m | 1:50PM1.22m | 1:55AM1.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:00PM0.29m | 00:22AM0.37m | 12:25PM0.43m | 00:50AM0.51m | 12:54PM0.58m | 1:31AM0.65m | 1:40PM0.73m | 4:11AM0.75m | 6:20PM0.77m | 7:00AM0.63m | 7:24PM0.63m | 7:35AM0.48m | 7:54PM0.48m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | S 7 | SE 7 | E 10 | S 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SSW 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
333 | 290 | 179 | 113 | 386 | 138 | 626 | 724 | 93 | 868 | 749 | 668 | 476 | 386 | 414 | 383 | 298 | 173 | 145 | 301 | 245 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | E 10 | E 10 | S 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 7 | E 8 | SSW 13 | S 12 |
192 | 86 | 259 | 210 | 140 | 147 | 140 | 145 | 120 | 139 | 92 | 74 | 419 | 351 | 151 | 85 | 56 | 88 | 135 | 101 | 67 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 19 | — | — | — | — | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 15 | SSE 15 |
— | — | 110 | 113 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 47 | 120 | 18 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SE 6 | — | — | ESE 8 | E 9 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | ESE 8 | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | SW 5 |
69 | 229 | 73 | — | — | 629 | 685 | — | 699 | 1082 | 971 | 855 | 645 | — | — | 498 | — | — | 210 | 339 | 42 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 431 | 512 | 1 | 23 | 105 | 512 | 642 | 905 | 180 | 380 | 144 | 323 | 295 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 0 |
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.










