Cintsa West Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.83° S 28.12° E

Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cintsa West sea temperature is
20.4° C
0.3° 

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 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, E swell with 1,596 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 14s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Thu 30th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 9s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 30th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 9s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sun 2nd Aug)8ft (2.5m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what Cintsa West has in store for us over this 16-day stretch.

First up, a bit about the conditions here at Cintsa West. Water temp is running about average for the time of year, so nothing wild to report there. This is a point break, and it's exposed to the swell. It's worth knowing that this spot is inconsistent, so we have to be patient for the good days.

The week kicks off with a promising morning on Thursday, 30 July. We've got a 6ft swell rolling in from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at (989). The real beauty here is the glassy, clean conditions early with the wind just a whisper from the SSW at 3 mph. That's a proper window for some very good surf.

Unfortunately, the wind swings onshore after that, and from Thursday afternoon all the way through the weekend, the quality drops off. Winds get messy, and the surf becomes marginal or poor. The swell holds in the 6ft to 7ft range, but with cross-shore and onshore winds, it's not the clean lines we're after.

The first true standout arrives on Monday, 3 August. We wake up to clear skies, a light 3 mph NE breeze (cross-offshore), and a clean 6ft ESE swell (854). The wave comment says "expect very good surf conditions," and I'm with it. This is the best session on offer for the first week—clean, manageable size, and the right wind. Make the most of the morning.

The waves settle down a bit after that. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (4 and 5 August) offer smaller, clean waves in the 4ft to 5ft range with glassy or light cross-offshore winds. Good for a longboard or a fun cruiser.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Thursday, 6 August, through to Friday, 7 August, the wind is strong and cross, and the surf gets sloppy. A 4ft swell from the SSW with a 13-second period is a long-period groundswell, but with 16 mph cross-winds, it's a write-off for paddle surfing. The weekend of 8-9 August looks messy too, with a lot of cross-chop and building swell that's poorly lined up.

The second week brings bigger, more powerful swell, but the conditions stay difficult. By Monday, 10 August, we’re seeing a solid 10ft SSW swell (3102), but the wind is cross-onshore and the surf is marginal. This pattern continues into Tuesday, 11 August, with a massive 10ft S swell (4880) and a very long 16-second period. That's a lot of energy, but the cross-shore wind and beach-break nature of the setup makes it far better for kite surfing than a clean paddle session. This is expert-only territory and likely not of great quality.

The second standout arrives on Wednesday, 12 August morning. The wind drops to nothing—glassy—and we have a clean 5ft SSE groundswell with a classic 13-second period (1232). The combined energy is solid, and the comment says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is a beautiful, clean window of glassy, long-period swell. If you can handle the power, get on it.

Thursday, 13 August morning, also looks exceptional. Another glassy morning, this time with a bigger 10ft ENE swell (2481). Again, "excellent for experienced surfers." This one is big, so it's not for the faint of heart, but if you have the skills, the morning glass will be memorable.

The final morning on Friday, 14 August, is a 12ft ENE swell (3925), but the wind is up to 9 mph cross-shore, making it marginal.

In the end, the absolute best on offer is Monday morning, 3 August, for a clean, fun session, and Wednesday morning, 12 August, for a glassy, powerful, long-period groundswell. The long-range stuff on Thursday, 13 August is promising, but keep an eye on it.

Stay stoked, and I'll see you in the water.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
3
1
0
3
1
1
4
2
2
3
3
2
4
2
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
ESE
9
1.9
ESE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.7
ESE
9
1.7
ESE
9
1.7
ESE
9
1.7
ESE
9
1.8
ESE
10
2.3
ESE
12
2.2
ESE
11
2.5
E
11
2
ESE
10
1.8
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
1.9
E
10
1.4
ESE
9
1.4
E
9
1.9
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
537
588
547
559
480
506
445
465
598
1425
1142
1596
858
641
490
687
340
320
389
Wind (km/h)
5
SW
5
SSW
10
SSE
5
ENE
15
ENE
15
ENE
10
NNE
25
NE
20
ENE
15
NNE
20
NE
20
ENE
10
NNE
5
NE
15
ENE
10
NNE
10
NNE
15
NE
5
WNW
Wind State
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
High Tide
4:11AM1.52m
4:35PM1.55m
4:39AM1.54m
5:03PM1.60m
5:07AM1.54m
5:31PM1.62m
5:36AM1.52m
6:01PM1.61m
6:07AM1.46m
6:32PM1.56m
6:41AM1.38m
7:09PM1.49m
Low Tide
10:07PM0.24m
10:21AM0.10m
10:36PM0.20m
10:48AM0.06m
11:06PM0.17m
11:15AM0.05m
11:36PM0.17m
11:43AM0.07m
00:08AM0.20m
12:13PM0.13m
00:43AM0.25m
12:47PM0.21m
1:24AM0.34m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
6:58
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:27
5:28
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
 mm
2
2
1
1
Temp °C
16
16
17
16
17
17
15
16
17
14
19
21
16
22
24
19
27
30
23
Feels °C
15
15
15
15
14
13
13
12
13
11
15
17
14
19
21
17
23
27
20
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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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