Cintsa West Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.83° S 28.12° E

Issued: 1 am 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cintsa West sea temperature is
17.8° C

2.4°C colder than average for this time of year

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 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with 2,627 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period with SE 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 (Jul 05) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sun 5th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Thu 9th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 13s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G'day, I'm Rusty, and I've been staring at the charts for our little patch of coast. Let me tell you, it's not a straightforward run. We've got some solid lumps on the way, but you'll need patience and a good eye on the wind. The first decent option worth paddling for is this Sunday morning at Cintsa West.

Alright, let's get into it. This Sunday morning, the 5th of July, is your best early bet. We've got a solid 5ft swell rolling in from the SE, with a long 12-second period. The wave energy is moderate (634), but the real story is that clean, clear sky with a light N wind blowing cross-offshore. That's going to keep things tidy. The water's sitting at 64°, which is a full 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so make sure you've got the thick rubber on. It's a point break that's inconsistent, so don't expect a set every minute, but when they come, they'll be worth the wait. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so you might have a few mates out.

Swinging into Sunday afternoon, the wind shifts to a cross-shore NE breeze. The swell drops a touch to 4ft, but the juice is gone. It's a marginal call, tide might mess with it. Monday looks small and average, though Monday afternoon goes dead glassy with a 3ft SE swell – if you're desperate for a slide on a longboard, it's surfable, but there's nothing to get excited about.

Tuesday morning the 7th offers a tiny 2ft groundswell from the SSW with a long 14-second period and clean offshore NW wind. The energy is weak (211). It's a small, clean wave for the patient surfer. By Wednesday and Thursday, the swell starts to build, but the wind gets messy with a solid cross-shore breeze, making conditions ordinary.

Now, here's the real standout for the period. Friday morning, the 10th of July, is the one to circle on your calendar. The swell pumps up to 8ft from the S with a cracking 14-second period. That's a proper groundswell, and the combined energy is whopping (2398). But the magic is the glassy conditions – a dead calm, slight air with the wind going offshore. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. It's too big for beginners, but if you know what you're doing, this is the session. Later in the afternoon, the wind swings onshore, so get it early.

The weekend after that gets a bit lumpy with onshore winds and risk of thunderstorms, making for poor conditions. The following week has some moderate swells but the winds are often cross-off or onshore.

Looking further out, Friday morning, the 17th of July, we see another solid 8ft SSW groundswell (period 10 seconds) with a moderate 2111 energy. The wind is a clean cross-shore from the SW. It's a decent prospect, but a week and a half out, you take it with a grain of salt. The following Saturday morning, the 18th, we get a big 10ft S swell, but with a short 9-second period and a cross-shore wind. That kind of power with short-period windswell is only for the brave, and more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfers.

So, to wrap it up: the pick of the bunch is the Friday morning, 10th of July for the big, glassy S groundswell. The next best is this Sunday morning, 5th of July, for cleaner if smaller waves. If you're patient and want to avoid the crowds, the Friday 17th has potential but is a long way off. Stay safe, keep your wits about you, and I'll see you in the water.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
0
2
3
3
4
4
2
3
2
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SE
12
1.3
SE
11
1.1
SE
11
0.8
SE
11
0.8
SE
10
0.6
SSW
12
0.6
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
10
2.2
S
13
2
S
14
2.3
S
14
2.5
S
14
2.3
S
14
2.2
S
13
1.8
S
12
1.7
S
12
1.2
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
583
398
263
159
124
91
133
161
178
289
649
416
1657
1487
2127
2367
1905
1592
946
819
404
Wind (km/h)
10
N
10
NE
10
NNW
5
SW
0
E
10
N
10
NW
10
SW
5
NW
15
SW
25
SW
15
WSW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
WSW
5
SSW
10
ESE
10
ENE
20
ENE
25
ENE
25
ENE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
off
cross
glassy
cross-off
off
cross
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
7:06PM1.43m
7:12AM1.29m
7:48PM1.40m
7:59AM1.21m
8:40PM1.35m
9:02AM1.13m
9:47PM1.31m
10:26AM1.08m
11:11PM1.30m
12:02PM1.11m
00:34AM1.34m
1:20PM1.20m
1:43AM1.43m
Low Tide
12:44PM0.23m
1:15AM0.38m
1:22PM0.29m
2:04AM0.42m
2:08PM0.36m
3:04AM0.47m
3:07PM0.44m
4:22AM0.49m
4:26PM0.49m
5:49AM0.46m
5:57PM0.48m
7:07AM0.38m
7:17PM0.40m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:15
 mm
1
6
4
3
5
Temp °C
20
23
18
22
21
21
29
21
16
21
20
17
16
17
16
17
18
16
18
20
19
Feels °C
16
19
15
19
18
17
25
17
15
18
15
13
14
14
15
16
17
15
16
17
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SE
12
1.3
SE
11
1.1
SE
11
0.8
SE
11
0.8
SE
10
0.6
SE
10
0.6
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
14
0.4
ENE
8
0.8
SSW
14
2.2
S
13
2
S
14
2.3
S
14
2.5
S
14
2.3
S
14
2.2
S
13
1.8
S
12
1.7
S
12
1.2
S
12
Energy kJ
583
398
263
159
124
82
133
161
178
289
22
247
1657
1487
2127
2367
1905
1592
946
819
404
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
10
0.4
SW
9
0.6
E
6
0.5
E
6
0.4
SSW
12
0.6
SSW
12
0.5
SE
10
0.5
ENE
8
0.5
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
SE
9
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.3
ENE
8
0.9
ESE
6
1.1
E
6
1.1
E
7
Energy kJ
24
21
23
21
59
91
49
33
37
23
23
9
9
7
16
16
14
54
97
117
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
S
9
0.3
S
9
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
13
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
7
0.5
ENE
7
0.5
SE
10
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.2
E
10
0.2
ENE
7
0.2
ENE
8
0.2
E
10
0.1
SE
14
0.3
ENE
9
0.1
SE
13
0.2
E
8
0.9
SSE
8
Energy kJ
27
14
47
44
15
21
29
48
36
22
7
5
6
7
8
15
7
5
93
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ENE
4
0.9
NE
7
0.5
SW
3
0.4
SW
3
1.4
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
10
2.3
SW
12
0.2
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
6
1.3
E
6
Energy kJ
5
82
6
3
649
416
1427
6
43
140
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
Distance (km)
0
43
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
357
10
1
1
0
0
380
213
431
431
271
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
4
4
5
5
5
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
5
5
5
8
7
6
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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