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

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 am Friday 22 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
17.7° C
(Which is 3.4°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 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Doughnuts Backreef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 28) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Monday (May 25) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Sat 23rd May)4ft (1.2m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Wed 27th May)6ft (1.8m) 17s
Most Powerful 2AM (Thu 28th May)10ft (3.0m) 17s

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 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Tue morning, calm by Wed morning).

Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
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
0
1
1
3
3
2
3
4
3
2
1
2
3
3
3
5
4
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)
0.7
SW
12
2
WSW
7
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
14
1.2
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.5
SW
12
1.3
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
14
2.2
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
3
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
132
352
322
362
518
504
603
628
437
1304
1849
2390
1498
1109
918
1668
1806
4183
3745
3288
2544
Wind (km/h)
25
W
30
WSW
25
WSW
20
W
10
SW
10
N
10
NE
10
E
10
NE
10
NE
5
E
20
W
30
WSW
25
WSW
5
WSW
10
E
10
E
5
NNE
10
WSW
5
SSW
10
N
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
off
cross-on
cross-on
off
High Tide
8:40PM1.29m
9:05AM1.12m
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
Low Tide
1:56PM0.42m
2:57AM0.57m
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
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:07
7:09
7:09
7:09
7:11
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:21
5:20
5:19
5:19
5:19
5:17
5:17
Temp °C
18
18
17
17
18
17
18
20
18
19
21
19
17
18
17
18
19
18
18
19
17
15
14
13
14
16
18
16
19
18
18
20
19
13
14
15
18
18
18
18
18
18
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
E
7
0.7
E
7
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
14
1.2
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.5
SW
12
1.3
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
14
2.2
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
3
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
2.5
SW
14
Energy kJ
80
53
322
362
518
504
603
628
437
1304
1849
2390
1498
1109
918
1668
1806
4183
3745
3288
2544
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
12
0.7
SW
11
0.5
E
8
0.7
SW
10
1
SW
7
0.7
SSW
6
0.5
SSE
12
0.5
SSE
11
0.7
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
10
0.8
E
5
1.1
E
7
0.7
E
7
0.5
E
7
0.7
SW
16
0.3
SE
11
0.4
SW
20
0.3
ESE
10
0.6
WSW
5
Energy kJ
132
127
28
110
85
30
75
68
101
55
37
114
52
25
255
20
107
19
15
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
E
12
0.6
E
11
0.6
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.4
E
10
0.6
SSW
16
0.3
E
10
0.5
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
ENE
7
0.2
ENE
7
0.3
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
10
Energy kJ
52
48
70
89
84
57
55
32
171
17
54
35
21
13
9
4
23
19
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
WSW
5
2
WSW
7
1.9
WSW
6
1.4
SW
7
0.4
ENE
3
0.6
E
4
1.3
WSW
5
1.3
WSW
6
0.9
WSW
5
0.6
WSW
4
1.1
WSW
5
Energy kJ
97
352
292
194
4
13
78
111
42
10
56
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
1
1
4
4
5
4
3
4
Distance (km)
16
192
51
16
16
0
0
8
0
0
8
16
51
16
16
8
8
0
14
16
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South)
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
7
6
5
4
8
5
6
5
5
4
4
4
6
5
6
9
6
5
9
7
  • 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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