Doughnuts Backreef surfForecast / Eastern Cape (S) / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Saturday 23 May 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Doughnuts Backreef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Doughnuts Backreef sea temperature is
18.6° C
(Which is 2.4°C colder than average for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Doughnuts Backreef this week:

The surf forecast for Doughnuts Backreef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 23) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Doughnuts Backreef in the next 16 days are 4.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 28) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Saturday (May 30) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sat 23rd May)4.5ft (1.3m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 28th May)15ft (4.5m) 15s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 28th May)15ft (4.5m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Doughnuts Backreef over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the W by Thu night).

Sat
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
3
2
3
4
3
3
1
1
4
4
4
4
3
0
5
0
0
2
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)
1.2
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
1.4
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.9
SW
12
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
3
SW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
4
SW
14
3.5
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
13
2.5
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
518
504
661
694
380
1285
2704
2462
1395
1025
1059
1395
1290
4335
3263
3573
6883
4431
3570
2693
2140
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
10
N
5
NNE
10
ESE
5
NE
10
NE
10
E
15
W
25
WSW
20
WSW
5
NW
15
NE
15
ENE
10
W
15
WSW
20
WSW
25
W
25
WSW
25
WSW
15
SW
15
E
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
10:03PM1.27m
10:33AM1.09m
11:18PM1.30m
11:49AM1.13m
00:17AM1.35m
12:46PM1.19m
1:03AM1.40m
1:31PM1.26m
1:42AM1.45m
2:09PM1.33m
2:18AM1.48m
2:44PM1.38m
2:51AM1.50m
Low Tide
3:11PM0.50m
4:35AM0.58m
4:37PM0.53m
5:57AM0.53m
5:51PM0.50m
6:52AM0.45m
6:47PM0.46m
7:33AM0.37m
7:31PM0.41m
8:07AM0.31m
8:08PM0.36m
8:38AM0.25m
8:43PM0.32m
9:09AM0.22m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:11
7:11
7:11
7:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:19
5:19
5:19
5:17
5:17
5:16
5:16
3
3
2
Temp °C
18
17
18
20
18
19
22
20
18
18
17
18
19
18
18
19
17
17
17
17
16
16
17
18
20
18
18
21
20
15
15
16
17
18
17
16
17
14
14
13
12
15
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
1.4
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.9
SW
12
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
3
SW
17
2.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
3.5
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
13
2.5
SW
13
Energy kJ
518
504
661
694
380
1285
2704
2462
1395
1025
1059
1395
1290
4335
3263
3573
4431
3570
2693
2140
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
6
0.8
SW
6
0.5
SSE
12
0.5
SSE
11
0.6
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
10
0.7
E
5
0.8
E
6
0.6
E
7
0.5
E
8
0.6
SSW
16
0.4
ENE
7
0.6
SSW
20
0.6
E
4
0.4
E
5
0.1
SE
13
0.1
S
12
Energy kJ
62
40
75
68
88
55
25
48
35
30
166
16
259
13
9
7
3
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.4
E
10
0.6
SSW
16
0.3
E
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.2
SSE
9
0.5
E
8
0.1
SE
11
0.1
SE
11
0.2
ESE
10
Energy kJ
84
57
55
32
171
17
37
35
21
8
30
5
5
9
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ENE
3
0.6
E
4
0.9
E
5
1.5
WSW
6
1.6
WSW
6
0.3
ENE
6
0.9
WSW
4
1.2
SW
5
4
SW
14
0.5
ENE
3
Energy kJ
2
12
43
143
196
8
33
82
6883
6
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
1
1
4
4
4
4
4
3
8
4
4
2
4
Distance (km)
16
0
0
232
0
0
8
16
17
16
0
0
0
14
16
16
16
51
51
16
8
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South)
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6
5
5
9
5
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6
6
5
5
9
5
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
9
8
6
8
6
7
8
9
7
6
5
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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 Doughnuts Backreef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Doughnuts Backreef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Doughnuts Backreef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Doughnuts Backreef 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 (Doughnuts Backreef) 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 Doughnuts Backreef 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.

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