Surf Forecasts:
Cintsa West surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 18s period, SSW swell with 961 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. 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 1.3m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. 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 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cintsa West over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s look at the same picture, but in feet and miles.
The surf is dead quiet to start. Your first real chance is Saturday afternoon, July 25th, at Cintsa West. It’s a point break, and it’s inconsistent, so when it goes, it’s a special spot. The water temp is 67°, which is about normal for the season.
Saturday afternoon is a maybe. There’s a 4ft SSW swell with a moderate energy push (842), and a clean, light SSE breeze holding it open. That offshore wind is a big plus, but it’s a marginal call.
Sunday morning, July 26th, the swell is a bit better at 5ft from the SSW, with a longer period of 12 seconds. That’s real groundswell energy. The wind is cross-shore from the NE, and the energy is solid (654). Still marginal, but the morning window is your best bet. Sunday afternoon falls apart with a 20 km/h wind.
Monday the 27th is a mess. A strong SW wind and a short-period 5ft swell that’s all chop. Not worth it. Tuesday the 28th has a 8ft SSE swell, but the period is short (8 seconds) and there’s light rain. The energy is strong (1229), but it’ll be a bumpy, short-period mess.
The first real highlight is Thursday morning, July 30th. The wind goes light from the NNE, cross-offshore, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the east with a 9-second period. The energy is moderate (586), and the conditions are “clean.” That’s a fun session.
Friday the 31st and Saturday August 1st are blown out by strong NE winds.
Now, the big one. Tuesday, August 4th, afternoon. We’ve got a serious 8ft E swell with a very long period of 12 seconds, and the energy is massive (3403). The wind is light from the NE, cross-shore. This is a powerful, long-period groundswell. For a point break, this is the stuff of dreams – long, lined-up waves, though it’s definitely for the experienced crew. This is the standout of the whole forecast.
Wednesday morning, August 5th, is also a beauty. The swell drops to 5ft, but the period is still a sweet 12 seconds, and the wind is cross-offshore from the NE. It’s clean with solid energy (1203). An excellent session for the intermediate and up.
Friday morning, August 7th, is a glassy dream. The wind is dead calm, the swell is 7ft from the ENE, and the energy is high (1080). That’s expert territory, but glassy conditions on a big groundswell at a point break? That’s perfection.
The second week has smaller, cleaner options, but nothing tops that first week of August. The crowds at Cintsa West can be around sometimes, so get there early for the best ones.
Absolute best: Tuesday afternoon, August 4th, for the biggest, most powerful swell, and Friday morning, August 7th, for the glassy, expert-level perfection.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 18 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 485 | 713 | 540 | 313 | 449 | 222 | 210 | 961 | 669 | 468 | 514 | 378 | 344 | 388 | 388 | 495 | 285 | 334 | 205 | 184 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:55AM1.20m | 2:31PM1.18m | 2:37AM1.30m | 3:06PM1.29m | 3:11AM1.39m | 3:37PM1.39m | 3:42AM1.46m | 4:07PM1.48m | 4:11AM1.52m | 4:35PM1.55m | 4:39AM1.54m | 5:03PM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:40PM0.58m | 8:19AM0.45m | 8:27PM0.49m | 8:55AM0.35m | 9:04PM0.39m | 9:25AM0.25m | 9:36PM0.31m | 9:54AM0.16m | 10:07PM0.24m | 10:21AM0.10m | 10:36PM0.20m | 10:48AM0.06m | 11:06PM0.17m | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 14 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | E 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 | E 9 | SSW 13 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 251 | 713 | 540 | 313 | 106 | 222 | 198 | 961 | 546 | 468 | 514 | 378 | 312 | 388 | 388 | 187 | 264 | 334 | 205 | 184 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 16 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | ENE 9 | E 9 | SSW 15 | S 12 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 485 | 159 | 77 | 251 | 449 | 62 | 206 | 25 | 14 | 456 | 11 | 61 | 83 | 253 | 184 | 14 | 285 | 213 | 133 | 43 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | — | SE 11 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 16 | E 8 | — | — | E 9 | — | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 7 | — | — | S 7 |
| kJ | 106 | — | 30 | 36 | 12 | 53 | 33 | — | — | 14 | — | 10 | 25 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 4 | — | — | 28 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 5 | — | SW 6 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | NE 4 | NE 4 | E 9 | E 6 | — | E 4 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 42 | — | 111 | 210 | 216 | 669 | — | 373 | 340 | 344 | 26 | 20 | 495 | 122 | — | 29 | 34 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 0 | 43 | 271 | 0 | 197 | 262 | 105 | 512 | 105 | 153 | 153 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 262 | 0 | 100 | 380 | 153 |
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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