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

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 am Tuesday 19 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 2.5°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 Thursday (May 21) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period. 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Thu 21st May)2.5ft (0.7m) 13s
Best Surf 8PM (Mon 25th May)8ft (2.5m) 14s
Most Powerful 2PM (Mon 25th May)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Wed afternoon, light winds from the N by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

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

Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
2
1
0
2
1
2
2
3
3
2
3
4
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
12
1.2
SW
12
2.3
ESE
7
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SW
12
0.5
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.7
SW
12
0.7
SW
12
0.7
SW
11
2.2
WSW
7
1.1
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
12
1
SW
13
1.4
SW
13
2.1
SW
13
3
SW
15
2.5
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
537
437
520
228
118
120
201
175
141
132
127
494
529
511
459
298
352
669
1438
3614
2345
Wind (km/h)
30
E
25
E
30
E
25
ENE
30
ENE
30
ENE
15
NE
15
NE
5
N
15
WSW
20
SW
15
W
20
W
10
SW
10
NNE
10
NNE
5
E
10
W
15
WSW
5
SW
5
NNE
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross
cross-on
off
High Tide
5:35PM1.54m
5:52AM1.51m
6:27PM1.45m
6:44AM1.37m
7:27PM1.36m
7:46AM1.22m
8:40PM1.29m
9:05AM1.12m
10:03PM1.27m
10:33AM1.09m
11:18PM1.30m
11:49AM1.13m
00:17AM1.35m
Low Tide
11:20AM0.10m
11:40PM0.22m
12:06PM0.20m
00:33AM0.35m
12:56PM0.32m
1:35AM0.47m
1:56PM0.42m
2:57AM0.57m
3:11PM0.50m
4:35AM0.58m
4:37PM0.53m
5:57AM0.53m
5:51PM0.50m
cloud
cloud
rain showers
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:05
7:05
7:07
7:07
7:07
7:09
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:21
5:21
5:20
5:19
5:19
1
2
Temp °C
19
18
18
19
20
19
20
25
22
19
19
18
18
19
18
20
22
19
19
19
18
15
14
14
16
16
15
18
22
16
18
17
16
16
17
20
19
22
20
18
18
20
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SSE
8
1.3
SSE
8
1
SW
13
1.4
SE
7
0.6
SW
12
0.5
SW
12
0.8
SSW
13
1.9
E
8
1.5
E
8
1.1
E
8
0.9
E
7
0.7
SW
16
1.1
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
12
1
SW
10
1.4
SW
13
2.1
SW
13
3
SW
15
2.5
SW
13
Energy kJ
316
176
315
217
118
69
201
421
268
133
85
258
529
511
459
298
216
669
1438
3614
2345
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
12
1.2
SW
12
0.7
SSE
12
0.8
SW
13
0.5
SSE
12
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SW
11
0.7
SW
13
0.7
SW
12
0.7
SW
12
0.7
SW
11
0.6
E
7
0.7
E
11
1
WSW
6
0.6
S
6
0.7
SW
14
1
SW
13
0.7
SSW
16
1.4
SSW
17
0.4
SE
10
0.3
SSE
10
Energy kJ
537
437
136
228
79
120
30
175
141
132
127
39
121
77
25
214
352
223
1175
26
20
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SSE
14
0.6
SSE
13
0.5
SSW
10
0.5
SSE
12
0.3
SSW
9
0.4
SSE
11
0.3
SSE
10
0.2
S
13
0.5
S
12
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
E
12
0.3
SSE
13
0.6
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
11
0.4
SSE
11
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
E
10
0.3
E
10
Energy kJ
108
137
57
82
17
46
22
14
67
52
48
70
35
84
57
71
68
45
40
30
16
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
E
6
1.7
ESE
6
2.3
ESE
7
1.7
E
6
2.5
E
7
2.5
E
8
2.3
E
8
0.7
NNW
3
0.8
WSW
4
1
WSW
5
2.2
WSW
7
1.6
WSW
6
0.4
NE
3
0.3
ENE
3
1.2
SE
6
Energy kJ
267
237
520
228
670
747
600
12
22
54
494
191
2
1
98
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
4
3
3
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
4
3
4
Distance (km)
250
250
250
250
250
192
24
0
0
16
16
16
16
16
0
0
0
14
14
16
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South)
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
5
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
4
3
4
4
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
5
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
5
5
7
4
8
7
5
5
4
5
4
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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