Cintsa West Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.83° S 28.12° E

Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cintsa West sea temperature is
18.3° C
1.5° 

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 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,984 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 2.3m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Thu 20th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 14s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 20th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 14s
Most Powerful 8PM (Thu 20th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into what's on the cards for Cintsa West.

First up, Cintsa West is a point break that's been a bit of a sleeping giant lately – it's inconsistent, but when it gets the right juice, it’s a gem. The water's sitting at 65°, which is a bit colder than we're used to for this time of year. The vibe is a sleepy one to start, with some cross-on junk and a big, messy 8ft SSW swell on Thursday the 20th that just looks like a washing machine. Not worth the paddle.

Friday morning, August 21st is where it gets interesting. We’ve got a clean 5ft SSW swell rolling in with a 12-second period and glassy conditions. The energy is moderate at 612, but that offshore stillness makes it a real treat for an intermediate. It’s the first real standout of the period, and it’s shaping up to be a clean, fun session before the wind turns later.

After a bit of a lull with strong winds and sloppy surf over the weekend, Tuesday morning, August 25th pops up. We’ve got a solid 5ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period, cranking the energy up to 1060. The wind is glassy and offshore from the West. This is a proper long-period groundswell, which means it will wrap beautifully around this point. It's a session for experienced surfers though – that long period will have some serious power and the waves will be a bit more challenging.

We then hit another quiet spell until Thursday morning, August 27th. The swell swings to the ENE at 6ft, but the period is a short 8 seconds. The wind is offshore from the NNW, and the energy is strong at 1246, so the lineup will be clean and punchy, but those short-period waves will be a bit more dumpy and less organized. It’s still one of the better windows, but don't expect the same glide as the 25th.

Looking way out, there's a massive wall of water forecast for Thursday, September 3rd. We're talking a 20ft SW swell with a 16-second period and an insane energy reading of 22640. That is a monster, and it's simply too big for this break. Unless you’re a tow-in expert, stay on the sand that day. The day after, Friday the 4th, the swell drops to a much more manageable 7ft S groundswell, but the cross-shore wind will put a chop on it.

Overall, the two real standouts are the glassy Friday morning on the 21st and the powerful, offshore Tuesday on the 25th. The rest is a mix of wind-affected or marginal conditions, with a brief, punchy window on the 27th. Don't waste your energy paddling out in the junk.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SW by Sat afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
3
1
0
0
0
2
2
2
2
1
0
3
4
1
2
1
1
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
SSW
14
1.8
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
12
1.3
SSW
12
1.2
S
12
1
S
11
2.2
SSW
7
2.5
SW
10
1.6
SSW
10
1.5
S
11
1.3
S
11
0.9
S
9
0.7
SSW
12
1
S
16
1.6
SSW
15
1.5
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
14
1.3
S
16
1.1
S
12
2.3
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2329
1073
598
494
404
265
542
1255
492
535
388
127
125
496
1049
838
704
815
344
575
Wind (km/h)
10
S
5
WNW
5
SSE
10
ESE
15
NE
30
SW
40
SW
25
WSW
10
SW
10
SE
10
N
10
SSW
20
SSW
15
W
5
W
15
E
20
NE
20
NE
15
NE
10
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
8:10PM1.08m
8:39AM0.93m
10:07PM0.97m
12:31PM0.91m
00:55AM1.03m
1:46PM1.05m
1:49AM1.16m
2:21PM1.19m
2:24AM1.29m
2:49PM1.34m
2:53AM1.40m
3:15PM1.47m
3:20AM1.50m
Low Tide
2:39AM0.67m
2:48PM0.72m
5:33AM0.73m
6:24PM0.74m
7:32AM0.61m
7:43PM0.62m
8:09AM0.47m
8:20PM0.49m
8:37AM0.33m
8:50PM0.36m
9:03AM0.21m
9:17PM0.25m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:42
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:44
5:45
5:45
 mm
Temp °C
20
17
18
19
17
23
22
17
18
19
15
20
21
16
19
20
17
23
27
25
Feels °C
17
18
18
18
17
18
15
11
16
17
14
17
18
14
19
18
16
20
24
21
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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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