Surf Forecasts:
Cintsa West surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, S swell with 1,442 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s 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 2.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cintsa West over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range look at what we’ve got coming up. It’s been a quiet spell, but the surf is about to turn on.
We start with a bit of a wait. The first proper session worth paddling out for isn't until Friday morning, the 7th of August. Before that, Thursday the 6th is a write-off—messy, onshore junk.
Alright, Friday the 7th of August is where it starts getting interesting. Cintsa West (Wild Coast) wakes up to some clouds clearing, a glassy sheet of water, and a clean 3ft SSW groundswell with a 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 387. It won't be huge, but the glassy conditions make it a real gem. Friday afternoon gets spoiled by a sea breeze, so make the most of the morning.
Now for the true standout of this outlook—Saturday morning, the 8th of August. Cintsa West is looking perfect. It’s dead glass again, with a touch more size at 4ft from the SSW and a solid 14-second interval. Wave energy jumps up to moderate at 734. This is a beautiful, clean point break session for the intermediate surfer. You’ll have the place to yourselves that morning, though be mindful, it can get a crowd sometimes.
Sunday the 9th sees a pulse of bigger swell, but the wind swings onshore and gets ugly. The 7ft SSW swell on Sunday morning has a ton of energy (1483) and a clean cross-offshore wind, but the quality crumbles by the afternoon with strong onshore winds. Monday through Wednesday of that first week are mostly a write-off with rain and messy winds, despite some size hanging around.
The second week settles down but gets smaller. Another window opens on Saturday the 15th of August. The morning offers a clean 4ft swell with an offshore wind at Cintsa West. It's a smaller, clean day. Then Sunday the 16th through Tuesday the 18th of August all have clean, glassy mornings with waist-high 3ft to 3ft easterly swells. Periods are short to moderate (8-9 seconds), so the energy is weak (between 196 and 257), making for fun, small waves on the point. Great for a longboard.
So there you have it. The overall pattern is a slow start, a magic window this Saturday morning, and then a long run of clean but small surf through the middle of next week. Keep your eyes on Saturday the 8th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 366 | 309 | 640 | 538 | 318 | 328 | 590 | 565 | 384 | 265 | 1401 | 557 | 522 | 520 | 273 | 907 | 872 | 1288 | 617 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:12AM1.14m | 8:56PM1.26m | 9:39AM1.03m | 10:42PM1.18m | 11:55AM1.04m | 00:36AM1.23m | 1:27PM1.18m | 1:48AM1.35m | 2:24PM1.36m | 2:40AM1.48m | 3:09PM1.52m | 3:22AM1.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:15AM0.44m | 2:19PM0.45m | 3:32AM0.54m | 3:46PM0.56m | 5:31AM0.56m | 5:55PM0.57m | 7:11AM0.45m | 7:30PM0.45m | 8:11AM0.30m | 8:30PM0.30m | 8:56AM0.16m | 9:16PM0.17m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | |  | |  | | |
 | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 5:31 | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 23 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 7 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SE 7 | S 8 | SE 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 175 | 66 | 640 | 538 | 318 | 328 | 590 | 565 | 384 | 81 | 66 | 384 | 99 | 520 | 115 | 907 | 872 | 1288 | 617 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SE 8 | E 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 14 | ESE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 366 | 120 | 90 | 90 | 64 | 61 | 43 | 110 | 110 | 265 | 16 | 43 | 154 | 160 | 186 | 672 | 545 | 178 | 255 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 15 | — | S 18 | ENE 7 | — | SSE 6 | E 9 | SE 7 | E 9 | — | — | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | 309 | — | 6 | 5 | — | 15 | 59 | 27 | 62 | — | — | 45 | 27 | 27 | 65 | 44 | 43 | 41 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 2 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | E 3 | ENE 6 | — | SSW 4 | SW 6 | SSW 13 | S 7 | S 8 | — | SSW 8 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 124 | — | — | — | 2 | 84 | — | 34 | 130 | 1401 | 557 | 522 | — | 273 | 140 | 150 | — | 361 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 28 | 197 | 0 | 0 | 512 | 123 | 0 | 197 | 0 | 1 | 2975 | 830 | 512 | 512 | 105 | 180 | 873 | 180 |
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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