Cintsa West Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.83° S 28.12° E

Issued: 1 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cintsa West sea temperature is
17.8° C

2.4°C colder than average for this time of year

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 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,263 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period with SE 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 06) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) 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 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Mon 6th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 11s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 13s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Hey crew, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Cintsa West for the next couple of weeks. This spot is a proper point break but it’s inconsistent, so you gotta be ready to jump when it’s on. We’ve got a pretty slow start, but a couple of proper gems in the second half.

The water is 64°F, which is over 4°F colder than average for this time of year – that’s a proper winter bone-chiller, so bring your thickest wetsuit.

First chance is Monday, July 6th in the morning. Small 3ft swell from the SE, but the wind is glassy – dead calm out of the west at 3 mph. The combined energy is weak at 215, but for a point, clean conditions mean everything. It’ll be surfable but nothing special.

The next few days are average, with cross-shore breezes and choppy little waves. Then on Thursday July 9th, the swell jumps to 7ft from the SSW, but the wind is still messy. The energy is building, hitting 1098 (moderate). Not the pick yet.

Here’s the big one. Friday morning, July 10th. Swell at 8ft from the south, with a 14-second period – that’s groundswell with serious grunt and energy of 2674 (strong). The wind? Glassy, 3 mph from the SSW. This is an excellent session for experienced surfers only – that’s a heavy size for a point. The long period will give it shape and power, and with clean, glassy conditions, Cintsa West will be running. Crowds are sometimes here, but for this quality, don’t let it put you off. This is the standout. Clean, powerful, and lined up.

The swell stays in the 5ft to 6ft range through the following days, but winds get messy again. Then another beauty on Tuesday, July 14th – the afternoon is huge: 12ft from the SSE, glassy with 3 mph wind, and combined energy of 3663 (strong). Experts only. The morning is also excellent at 8ft, but the afternoon is the bigger, cleaner winner.

Look further ahead to Friday, July 17th. The swell drops to a friendlier 5ft from the south, with a 13-second period and calm, glassy conditions. Energy at 914 (moderate). This is a very good session for intermediates who missed the heavy stuff. Clean, lined up, and much more manageable.

After that, it fades. Most of the second week is poor with onshore winds and weaker swell, except for Tuesday July 21st, which brings 7ft from the ENE with clean offshore winds. Another one for the experienced crew, but a long-range call.

The absolute pick of the fortnight is Friday July 10th morning. If you can handle the size and the cold, get out there. The rest of the time, you’re waiting or fighting the wind.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
0
1
2
1
0
3
2
2
4
4
2
4
1
1
2
2
2
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SE
11
0.8
SE
10
0.6
SSW
12
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
2
SSW
10
2
SSW
12
2.2
SSW
11
2.4
S
14
2.5
S
14
2.3
S
14
2.1
S
13
1.5
S
13
1.4
S
12
1.2
S
12
2.5
S
9
1.9
S
8
3.5
SE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
159
124
90
173
161
181
249
249
756
1072
1164
2374
2659
1951
1484
752
593
418
1029
470
2464
Wind (km/h)
5
W
5
SSE
10
NNW
15
SSW
15
SW
5
NNW
15
SW
20
SW
15
W
25
SW
20
SW
10
WSW
5
SSW
10
E
10
NNE
20
NE
15
NE
15
WSW
30
W
30
W
25
WSW
Wind State
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:48PM1.40m
7:59AM1.21m
8:40PM1.35m
9:02AM1.13m
9:47PM1.31m
10:26AM1.08m
11:11PM1.30m
12:02PM1.11m
00:34AM1.34m
1:20PM1.20m
1:43AM1.43m
2:21PM1.33m
2:40AM1.52m
Low Tide
1:22PM0.29m
2:04AM0.42m
2:08PM0.36m
3:04AM0.47m
3:07PM0.44m
4:22AM0.49m
4:26PM0.49m
5:49AM0.46m
5:57PM0.48m
7:07AM0.38m
7:17PM0.40m
8:09AM0.27m
8:22PM0.29m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
 mm
2
2
Temp °C
23
23
22
24
21
16
23
21
17
19
19
16
16
17
17
21
23
17
19
16
16
Feels °C
20
20
17
20
17
16
19
17
15
15
15
14
15
15
16
18
20
14
13
12
11
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SE
11
0.8
SE
10
0.6
SE
10
0.6
ENE
7
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
10
2
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
11
2.4
S
14
2.5
S
14
2.3
S
14
2.1
S
13
1.5
S
13
1.4
S
12
1.2
S
12
2.5
S
9
0.9
SSW
12
3.5
SE
10
Energy kJ
159
124
82
42
161
181
249
249
437
1072
572
2374
2659
1951
1484
752
593
418
1029
220
2464
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
SSW
12
0.6
SSW
12
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
SE
9
0.8
SSW
14
0.3
E
10
0.9
SSW
14
0.1
E
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
8
0.9
SSE
7
0.9
SSE
7
1.1
ESE
6
1
E
8
0.9
E
8
1.2
S
15
Energy kJ
12
59
90
173
32
26
19
23
265
16
317
2
8
7
7
64
86
90
124
95
610
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
13
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
7
0.5
SE
10
0.5
SE
10
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.3
ENE
7
0.2
ESE
10
0.1
SE
16
0.2
ESE
10
0.1
NE
8
0.1
SE
13
0.1
SE
13
0.9
ESE
6
0.9
ESE
6
0.8
S
7
0.1
SW
18
0.7
S
15
Energy kJ
44
14
20
49
48
37
22
10
10
10
9
2
7
7
52
68
68
12
229
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
3
0.7
SSW
4
1.1
SSW
5
2
SSW
10
2.2
SSW
11
2.3
S
9
1.9
S
8
Energy kJ
3
18
56
756
1164
823
470
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
5
Distance (km)
0
0
0
28
1
0
1
28
1
105
28
0
0
512
0
271
43
1
105
262
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
5
5
4
3
3
3
5
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
7
8
7
5
5
9
6
9
9
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
5
  • Map Icons:
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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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