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

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Monday 11 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
18.7° C
(Which is 2.7°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 Tuesday (May 12) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 7.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Doughnuts Backreef in the next 16 days are 7.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 12) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Sunday (May 17) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 12th May)23ft (7.0m) 14s
Best Surf 2AM (Tue 12th May)23ft (7.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 2AM (Tue 12th May)23ft (7.0m) 14s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon night, min 14°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Wed morning, light winds from the SW by Thu afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Mon
18
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
!
!
!
3
2
5
3
3
3
4
3
4
3
2
4
4
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)
7
SW
14
6
SW
14
5
SW
13
6
SW
12
7
SW
13
6
SW
13
4.5
SW
12
3.5
SW
12
3
SW
12
3.5
SSW
14
3.5
SSW
14
3
SSW
14
2.3
S
13
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.4
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.3
SW
14
1.4
SW
13
1.5
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
20205
12117
9119
9858
15741
12736
6000
3493
2504
4407
4756
2734
1778
1098
880
754
594
471
630
680
744
Wind (km/h)
35
WSW
25
W
20
W
40
W
50
W
35
WSW
30
W
20
W
10
SW
10
WNW
25
W
20
WSW
10
W
5
SW
10
SE
5
NNE
5
E
10
ESE
5
ENE
10
NE
15
E
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
High Tide
00:00AM1.33m
12:26PM1.22m
00:48AM1.47m
1:15PM1.35m
1:32AM1.61m
1:59PM1.46m
2:14AM1.72m
2:41PM1.55m
2:56AM1.78m
3:22PM1.61m
3:38AM1.79m
4:04PM1.63m
4:21AM1.74m
4:48PM1.60m
Low Tide
6:25AM0.46m
6:26PM0.40m
7:13AM0.30m
7:14PM0.29m
7:55AM0.16m
7:58PM0.18m
8:36AM0.06m
8:41PM0.10m
9:16AM-0.00m
9:24PM0.06m
9:56AM-0.01m
10:07PM0.06m
10:37AM0.02m
mod rain
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
rain showers
part cloud
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>
7:00
7:01
7:01
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:28
5:27
5:25
5:25
5:24
5:23
5:23
5:22
9
13
5
5
1
Temp °C
19
16
16
17
16
16
15
16
16
15
17
18
17
18
18
17
17
18
17
17
18
14
12
10
12
7
8
9
12
13
13
13
14
16
18
18
17
17
17
17
17
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
7
SW
14
5.5
SW
13
3.5
SSW
13
3.5
SW
12
3
SW
12
3.5
SSW
14
3.5
SSW
14
3
SSW
14
2.3
S
13
1.9
S
12
1.8
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.4
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.3
SW
14
1.4
SW
13
1.5
SW
13
Energy kJ
20205
9757
4654
3493
2504
4407
4756
2734
1778
1098
880
754
594
471
630
680
744
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SW
18
0.3
SW
16
0.4
SW
17
1.5
WSW
11
1.8
SW
13
1.7
S
12
1.5
S
11
1.1
S
11
1.1
S
11
1.1
S
13
1.1
S
13
0.9
S
12
Energy kJ
12
41
77
523
1018
814
563
279
272
417
398
232
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SW
20
0.3
SW
18
0.4
WSW
17
0.7
SW
15
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
10
0.6
S
14
0.7
S
14
0.3
ENE
5
0.5
E
5
0.4
E
5
Energy kJ
15
50
113
212
2
2
132
181
5
13
8
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
6
SW
14
5
SW
13
6
SW
12
7
SW
13
6
SW
13
4.5
SW
12
1.9
SW
11
0.4
ENE
3
0.4
ENE
3
1
S
5
0.5
S
4
0.9
SSE
5
Energy kJ
12117
9119
9858
15741
12736
6000
878
4
5
51
7
37
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
9
9
5
7
2
5
4
4
3
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
Distance (km)
232
232
16
306
616
607
51
16
16
0
16
16
14
0
232
0
8
64
0
0
8
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South)
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
5
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
9
9
9
7
4
5
8
5
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
9
9
5
6
8
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
7
4
5
7
4
4
8
  • 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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