
Surf Forecasts:
Cintsa West surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 13 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, S swell with 1,422 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period with E 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 Monday (Jul 13) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s 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 2.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 13th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 13th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cintsa West over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day window for Cintsa West, and while it’s got a bit of a slow start, the waiting is worth it. The first few days are fiddly, but from the middle of next week, we’re looking at some proper juice.
The first chance to get wet is Monday 13 July in the afternoon. It’s not much to write home about – a 6ft swell from the east with a short 8-second period, and a cross breeze from the ENE at 12 mph. The water’s sitting at 65°, which is a fair bit colder than normal for this time of year (anomaly of -4°). The combined energy is weak (533), so it’s a scratchy session at best.
Tuesday 14 July is where it starts to get interesting. The morning is glassy – dead calm, zero wind. The swell has bumped up to 6ft from the east, period 9 seconds, and the energy is moderate (593). This is a clean, fun wave for intermediates. The afternoon stays glassy with a light SE breeze, same swell. This is the first real standout: clean, consistent, and no crowds to worry about.
Wednesday 15 July turns a bit messy. Cross-shore and cross-on winds, swell dropping to 5ft, and the energy falls off. It’s not a write-off, but you’ll be working for it.
Thursday 16 July morning is a beauty. Glassy again, 4ft from the east with a longer 11-second period, and the energy is moderate (661). Clean, fun waves with a bit more shape. The afternoon gets a cross-on breeze and a 4ft swell from the SSW, but the period jumps to 14 seconds, giving it more push (748 energy). Still, the wind makes it average.
Friday 17 July is a no-go – cross-shore winds and a dropping swell, small and weak.
Saturday 18 July is the big one. This is the standout of the whole 16 days. The morning is glassy, with a 7ft swell from the south, period 13 seconds, and combined energy is strong (1436). That’s real groundswell – long, powerful lines. It’s only for experienced surfers, and it’s going to be clean as a whistle. The afternoon gets a cross-on breeze from the ENE at 12 mph, which chops it up, but the morning session is the one to circle.
Sunday 19 July morning is clean, with a light offshore from the north, 5ft from the south, period 11 seconds (762 energy). Good waves, not as powerful as Saturday, but still a solid session.
Monday 20 July is back to marginal – cross-on winds and a 6ft swell from the SW with a short 9-second period (956 energy). It’s lumpy.
Tuesday 21 July morning is clean again, light offshore from the north, only 3ft but the period is a massive 18 seconds from the SSW (923 energy). That’s very long period groundswell. It’s small, but the energy is moderate, and it’ll be super clean. A point break like Cintsa West loves this kind of long-period swell – it’ll wrap in nicely.
Wednesday 22 July is cross-shore, 5ft from the SSW with a 16-second period (1417 energy). Strong energy, but the wind makes it marginal.
Thursday 23 July is a big one. The morning shows a 10ft swell from the SW, period 14 seconds, and the combined energy is very strong (4626). That’s a heavy swell – only for experts. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s big. The afternoon is 6ft from the SSW with a 14-second period (1438 energy), but onshore wind.
Friday 24 July is blown out – strong cross-shore winds, small swell, poor conditions.
Saturday 25 July morning is glassy, 3ft from the south, period 11 seconds (419 energy). Small and clean, a good little session.
From there, the swell drops off. Sunday 26 July onwards is mostly small, weak, and windy. The last real chance is Tuesday 28 July morning, with a 3ft east swell, 7-second period, cross-on breeze – marginal at best.
So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Saturday 18 July morning – glassy, 7ft south swell, 13-second period, strong energy. It’s a power session for experienced surfers. The other standout is Tuesday 14 July morning – glassy, 6ft east swell, clean and fun for intermediates. The long-range stuff on Thursday 23 July is huge but windy; it’s promising but less certain.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 24°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mon 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
350 | 412 | 529 | 544 | 524 | 432 | 392 | 345 | 317 | 427 | 252 | 196 | 189 | 1280 | 1346 | 1187 | 827 | 640 | 485 | 237 | 505 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:12PM1.46m | 3:29AM1.59m | 3:59PM1.57m | 4:13AM1.62m | 4:42PM1.64m | 4:54AM1.61m | 5:23PM1.67m | 5:33AM1.56m | 6:02PM1.65m | 6:10AM1.47m | 6:40PM1.58m | 6:47AM1.37m | 7:18PM1.48m | 7:24AM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:16PM0.19m | 9:45AM0.07m | 10:04PM0.13m | 10:26AM0.02m | 10:49PM0.10m | 11:05AM0.00m | 11:30PM0.13m | 11:42AM0.03m | 00:11AM0.19m | 12:17PM0.10m | 00:50AM0.28m | 12:52PM0.20m | 1:29AM0.38m | 1:28PM0.32m | |||||||
— | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | |
5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | 5:21 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 23 | 17 | 19 |
Feels °C | 18 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 |
172 | 412 | 529 | 544 | 524 | 432 | 392 | 345 | 317 | 317 | 252 | 196 | 156 | 1280 | 1346 | 1187 | 827 | 640 | 485 | 237 | 349 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSE 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 7 | E 7 | E 9 | SSE 13 | SE 12 |
3 | 98 | 45 | 44 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 100 | 194 | 427 | 220 | 192 | 189 | 121 | 90 | — | 184 | 108 | 79 | 114 | 75 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 10 | S 17 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SE 11 | S 10 | — | S 16 | — | — | — | SSE 15 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | E 9 | E 9 |
8 | 8 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 78 | 150 | 4 | 2 | — | 21 | — | — | — | 169 | 7 | 15 | 43 | 27 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | NE 8 | — | — | — | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SW 8 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SSW 5 | — | — | E 5 | — | SW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SW 9 |
350 | 298 | — | — | — | 4 | 13 | 341 | — | — | — | 2 | 34 | — | — | 100 | — | 7 | 56 | 88 | 505 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 431 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 271 | 0 | 28 | 323 | 1 | 0 | 512 | 271 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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.











