Cintsa West Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.83° S 28.12° E

Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 09 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cintsa West sea temperature is
17.4° C
2.5° 

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 9 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 13s period, SSE swell with 1,872 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period with SSW 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 (Aug 09) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. 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 2.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sun 9th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Sat 15th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 2PM (Tue 11th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let’s look at what’s coming up for Cintsa West over the next couple of weeks. It’s a mixed bag, with a lot of so-so days, but a couple of real gems if you time it right.

To start, Sunday the 9th is a no-go. The morning has a 4ft SSW swell with a short 14-second period and a moderate cross-offshore breeze, but the water is sitting at 63°, which is a full 5° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s much colder than usual – and conditions are only marginal. The afternoon goes full-on messy with a fresh 19 mph onshore wind and lumpy 8ft surf. Not worth wetting a suit.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are poor too, with onshore winds and choppy, lumpy conditions. Tuesday morning sees a 7ft SSE swell push through, but it’s onshore and the combined energy is strong (1464), but the quality just isn’t there.

The first real standout is Sunday the 16th morning. A 7ft E swell with an 8-second period and a light 6 mph cross-shore breeze from the ENE. The wave energy is moderate to strong (988), and it’s looking clean with some cloud cover. Not huge, but rideable, and the wind is kind. That’s a good call for an intermediate session.

Now for the best of the bunch. Monday the 17th afternoon. It goes glassy – a dead calm 3 mph from the ESE – and the swell drops to a clean 5ft from the east with a 10-second period. The combined energy is moderate (518), and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s your window. Glassy, clean, with a long-period swell at a point break – the shape will be there, and the paddle out will be easy between sets. This is the standout of the forecast.

After that, things get average again through Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, with shifting winds and lumpy cross-shore conditions. Wednesday the 19th morning has a clean cross-offshore breeze from the WSW and a 5ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph, so it’s only marginal.

Looking further out, Sunday the 23rd morning is another glassy morning with calm wind and a 5ft SSE swell (period 10 seconds). Combined energy is moderate (776) and the forecast is for “very good surf conditions.” That’s a promising long-range option. Then Monday the 24th morning brings a bigger 6ft SSW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds – that’s groundswell territory. The energy is strong (2069), with a gentle cross-shore breeze. That much period can make a beach break tricky, but Cintsa West is a point, and points love that kind of energy. It’ll be clean, but crowds could show up if word gets out. A solid second-week option, though less certain this far out.

Overall, the best window is Monday the 17th afternoon with glassy conditions and clean east swell. Sunday the 16th morning and Sunday the 23rd morning are also strong calls. Most other days are average or poor, so pick your moments.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sun night, light winds from the SSE by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
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
0
0
2
0
2
1
2
3
2
0
2
1
1
2
0
0
2
1
0
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSW
14
2.5
S
7
2.4
SSE
8
1.6
S
8
1.3
ESE
8
1.4
SSW
11
2.1
SSE
11
2
S
13
1.9
ESE
9
2.2
ESE
8
1.6
E
10
1.7
E
9
0.8
SSW
17
0.6
SSW
20
0.7
SSW
18
1.4
E
7
1.7
E
7
2
ENE
7
1.8
ENE
8
2
E
8
2.5
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
653
727
762
316
208
460
961
1285
579
650
463
516
333
307
273
209
271
403
375
463
765
Wind (km/h)
20
WSW
30
S
25
SSW
15
SW
10
S
10
SSE
15
ESE
15
ESE
10
NE
20
ENE
20
ENE
20
NE
20
NE
25
ENE
15
NNE
25
NE
25
ENE
15
NNE
15
NE
20
ENE
15
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
1:27PM1.18m
1:48AM1.35m
2:24PM1.36m
2:40AM1.48m
3:09PM1.52m
3:22AM1.58m
3:48PM1.66m
4:00AM1.63m
4:25PM1.74m
4:35AM1.64m
4:59PM1.76m
5:08AM1.60m
5:31PM1.73m
Low Tide
7:30PM0.45m
8:11AM0.30m
8:30PM0.30m
8:56AM0.16m
9:16PM0.17m
9:34AM0.04m
9:56PM0.08m
10:09AM-0.03m
10:33PM0.04m
10:42AM-0.05m
11:07PM0.05m
11:13AM-0.02m
11:40PM0.11m
part cloud
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:47
6:46
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:38
 mm
1
9
2
2
4
2
Temp °C
19
17
15
14
14
14
15
15
15
17
17
16
18
19
16
18
20
16
21
22
17
Feels °C
16
12
9
10
11
12
11
12
12
13
13
12
13
14
12
14
15
13
18
18
15
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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