Surf Forecasts:
Cintsa West surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ENE swell with 2,546 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s 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 (Sep 14) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cintsa West over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, talking in feet and Fahrenheit now.
First few days are a total bust. Friday and Saturday are cross-onshore slop with weak, short-period dribble. Don't even bother. Wait it out.
Sunday the 13th we see some size—about 8ft to 8ft from the ESE—but it's still choppy with that cross-onshore wind. The energy is there (1250 to 1465), but it’s not clean. A pass.
Monday the 14th changes the game. Monday morning is messy with 12ft east swell and cross wind (3584 energy), but Monday afternoon at Cintsa West the wind drops to nothing—glassy. We’ve got a solid 10ft swell from the ENE (4103 energy) with a long 10-second period. This is a big, powerful groundswell, only for experts. Water temp is about average for this time of year. This is the clear standout of the whole 16 days. The break can be inconsistent, and when it fires like this, crowds are possible. But a glassy Monday afternoon with that much juice? That’s the one to circle.
Tuesday the 15th drops to about 6ft from the east, but the wind is cross-onshore again, making it just okay. Wednesday the 16th is a mess with strong SW wind and lumpy chop. Thursday the 17th morning turns glassy again with a 5ft SSE swell (583 energy)—a nice, clean smaller option.
The second week is a mixed bag. From the 18th to the 22nd, we’ve got inconsistent energy and mostly cross or cross-onshore wind. A couple of clean moments on the 22nd morning with a cross-offshore WSW breeze and 4ft south swell, but the wind is a strong 22 mph. The 23rd and 24th stay average with moderate cross-shore wind and bumpy surf.
Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th bring a bit more life from the south (13-14 second periods), with swell heights around 6ft to 7ft. The wind is cross-on or cross, so it’s not perfect, but it’s rideable. Energy is moderate (1132 to 1364). Nothing to write home about, but it’s surfable.
So here’s the take: if you’re an experienced surfer, Monday afternoon the 14th at Cintsa West is your best shot. Glassy, powerful, and clean. Otherwise, Thursday morning the 17th gives you a clean but smaller option.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | E 6 | SSW 18 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 7 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 131 | 96 | 96 | 107 | 148 | 565 | 705 | 981 | 1342 | 1306 | 2120 | 937 | 567 | 603 | 377 | 327 | 239 | 202 | 161 | 206 | 297 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:59PM1.78m | 4:11AM1.64m | 4:28PM1.78m | 4:40AM1.62m | 4:56PM1.73m | 5:07AM1.56m | 5:23PM1.64m | 5:34AM1.47m | 5:48PM1.52m | 5:59AM1.36m | 6:12PM1.38m | 6:24AM1.23m | 6:37PM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:44AM-0.03m | 10:09PM0.00m | 10:13AM-0.04m | 10:38PM0.01m | 10:41AM-0.01m | 11:05PM0.06m | 11:08AM0.06m | 11:31PM0.14m | 11:34AM0.17m | 11:56PM0.25m | 12:00PM0.29m | 00:22AM0.37m | 12:25PM0.43m | 00:50AM0.51m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 13 | 4 | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 7 |
| kJ | 113 | 86 | 96 | 107 | 90 | 565 | 582 | 481 | 1156 | 1306 | 1387 | 937 | 567 | 603 | 377 | 327 | 239 | 202 | 161 | 125 | 131 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 9 | E 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 131 | 96 | 85 | 83 | 85 | 52 | 10 | 15 | 297 | 141 | 131 | 73 | 69 | 103 | 101 | 138 | 128 | 160 | 135 | 86 | 297 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SE 8 | — | S 11 | — | — | — | SSW 12 | — | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | S 11 | S 11 | — | SSW 17 | E 10 |
| kJ | 11 | 13 | 82 | 63 | 47 | 28 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 190 | — | 30 | 61 | 66 | 2 | 2 | — | 55 | 96 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | — | ENE 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 26 | — | 27 | 40 | 148 | 474 | 705 | 981 | 1342 | 623 | 2120 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 109 | 192 | 138 | 206 | 100 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 105 | 295 | 271 | 497 | 431 | 431 | 431 | 431 | 262 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 100 | 0 | 432 | 512 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
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.
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