Danger Reef surf break

Danger Reef surfForecast / Cape Town / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Sunday 17 May 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Danger Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Danger Reef sea temperature is
16.6° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Danger Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Danger Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Danger Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 19) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (May 21) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 20th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Best Surf 8PM (Wed 20th May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Most Powerful11AM (Tue 19th May)10ft (3.0m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Danger Reef over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the E by Wed morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sun
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
WSW
13
1.4
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
2.5
SSE
8
3
SSE
9
2.4
SSE
8
2.3
SSE
9
2
SSE
8
2.5
SE
9
1.2
SSE
8
0.6
SW
13
0.4
SW
20
0.6
SW
18
0.8
SW
16
1.1
SW
16
1.1
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.4
SW
14
1.4
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.3
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
581
752
647
859
1437
796
903
554
931
192
106
98
258
318
567
528
600
802
780
511
853
Wind (km/h)
25
SE
30
SE
35
SE
35
SE
30
SE
25
SE
25
ESE
10
SE
10
SE
10
N
10
N
15
NW
10
NNW
5
NW
5
SW
5
SSW
5
SSW
10
S
10
SSE
5
SSW
10
WSW
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
3:55AM1.63m
4:28PM1.51m
4:43AM1.54m
5:17PM1.46m
5:34AM1.43m
6:11PM1.39m
6:31AM1.30m
7:12PM1.32m
7:37AM1.17m
8:23PM1.27m
8:56AM1.09m
9:38PM1.25m
10:19AM1.07m
Low Tide
9:45PM0.10m
10:16AM-0.00m
10:34PM0.14m
11:02AM0.08m
11:26PM0.22m
11:53AM0.18m
00:24AM0.31m
12:48PM0.29m
1:33AM0.40m
1:52PM0.39m
2:54AM0.45m
3:06PM0.45m
4:17AM0.45m
4:22PM0.48m
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:35
7:35
7:37
7:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:51
5:50
5:50
5:49
5:49
5:47
5:46
Temp °C
16
17
19
18
18
21
18
18
19
18
17
18
17
18
19
17
17
17
17
17
18
12
13
14
12
13
18
14
17
18
19
16
16
17
18
19
17
17
17
16
17
18
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
WSW
13
1.4
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.8
SW
12
0.6
SW
12
1.6
SSE
8
1.2
SSE
8
0.9
SSE
8
0.8
SSE
8
0.8
S
6
0.8
SW
16
1.1
SW
16
1.1
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.4
SW
14
1.4
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.3
SW
16
Energy kJ
581
752
647
431
336
282
178
114
360
192
94
66
54
318
567
528
600
802
780
511
853
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
S
10
0.4
S
10
0.8
S
8
0.2
S
12
0.2
S
15
0.3
SSE
14
0.6
SW
12
0.2
SSW
16
0.7
SSE
11
0.6
S
11
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SW
12
0.6
SW
11
0.7
S
6
0.6
S
5
0.5
S
5
0.2
SSE
5
0.2
SSE
14
0.3
SW
18
0.6
SW
16
0.3
SSE
11
Energy kJ
71
31
72
11
18
39
95
25
121
89
106
90
99
33
21
11
3
18
53
214
24
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
S
14
0.4
SSE
13
0.3
SSE
13
0.1
S
17
0.2
SSW
10
0.1
SW
16
0.5
SW
12
0.4
SW
14
0.3
SSE
11
0.4
SW
20
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
10
0.2
S
10
0.2
S
9
0.1
S
13
0.1
SE
6
0.3
SSE
12
0.3
SSE
12
0.2
S
6
Energy kJ
59
55
31
6
10
10
67
69
23
98
258
89
8
7
4
1
30
27
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSE
5
1.7
SSE
6
2.3
SSE
6
2.5
SSE
8
3
SSE
9
2.4
SSE
8
2.3
SSE
9
2
SSE
8
2.5
SE
9
0.2
NNW
3
0.5
NW
3
0.2
NNW
2
Energy kJ
87
164
405
859
1437
796
903
554
931
1
5
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
3
3
4
4
3
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
23
23
23
16
16
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
1
10
10
10
10
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
4
  • 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
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Danger Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Danger Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Danger Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Danger Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Danger Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Danger Reef 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 (Danger Reef) 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 Danger Reef 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 Cape Town? If you are looking for accommodation near Danger Reef, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 20 km (12 miles) away. Other places in and around Cape Town where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Bellville which is 29 km (18 miles) away, Robben Island, Stellenbosch and Kayamnandi.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest