Surf Forecasts:
Dumps surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,555 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dumps this week:
The surf forecast for Dumps over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Dumps in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Dumps over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ at Dumps.
We’re lookin’ at a solid run of solid south-west groundswell, and the wind’s playin’ nice for the most part. This isn’t a beginner’s party – this is for the crew who know what they’re doin’. The water temp is feelin’ about average for this time of year, so nothin’ wild there. The key word for this whole stretch is *power*.
It kicks off Wednesday morning, August 19th. We’ve got a clean, 8ft SW swell rollin’ in with a 12-second period, and a light south wind keepin’ things tidy. The energy is right up there (1866), so you’ll feel it. This is expert territory right from the jump. Thursday the 20th is the real standout of the first week. Morning session sees that SW swell bump up to a solid 10ft, period stretchin’ to 13 seconds, and the energy is thumpin’ at 3422. With light S winds makin’ it cross-off and glassy, Dumps is gonna be an absolute freight train. This is the one to circle on your calendar – big, clean, and demanding. Friday the 21st is still good but a notch down – 7ft SW swell, still clean in the morning, but by afternoon it gets a bit smaller and weaker with a cross shore wind.
Saturday the 22nd is a write-off with a choppy cross-on wind, so give it a miss. Sunday the 23rd brings it back to life, with another big 10ft pulse from the WSW early, clean and powerful (2480 energy). That’s your second-best window of the week. Monday the 24th drops off a fair bit to around 5ft, still clean but much mellower.
Then we get into the second week, and it stays interesting. Tuesday the 25th is another cracker – clean 8ft SW swell with a long 14-second period. That’ll line up beautifully. Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th get a bit messier with cross-on winds, so the quality dips. But hold on – Friday the 28th is back on, clean 8ft swell again, and then Saturday the 29th looks like the big finale. The morning shows a huge 10ft WSW swell at 14 seconds, energy at 3949 – clean as a whistle. By Saturday afternoon, the model is hintin’ at a 13ft monster (6689 energy), but it’s paired with a strong 35 km/h SSE wind. That much power with that much wind is only for the absolute hardcore. After that, Sunday the 30th through Tuesday September 1st sees the size hold but the wind gets gnarly – strong to fresh breezes make it a survival mission. Wednesday September 2nd gets a bit of a chop, and Thursday September 3rd is just mental – a 20ft WSW behemoth with 24296 energy, but with onshore wind. That’s a kite-surfing zoo, not a paddle session.
Overall, the best on offer is Thursday August 20th morning, and Sunday August 23rd morning. If you’re an expert, you’ll be smiling. If you’re not, give it a wide berth.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
2495 | 1866 | 1638 | 1818 | 3422 | 2618 | 1422 | 1046 | 485 | 427 | 229 | 1024 | 3449 | 2480 | 1937 | 1355 | 648 | 446 | 1712 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:19AM1.32m | 7:41PM1.38m | 8:14AM1.22m | 8:42PM1.27m | 9:53AM1.16m | 10:27PM1.21m | 11:59AM1.20m | 00:10AM1.25m | 1:03PM1.31m | 1:08AM1.34m | 1:42PM1.42m | 1:47AM1.44m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:15AM0.65m | 1:14PM0.71m | 2:05AM0.76m | 2:09PM0.83m | 3:29AM0.83m | 3:59PM0.91m | 5:24AM0.82m | 6:03PM0.88m | 6:38AM0.74m | 7:07PM0.78m | 7:23AM0.64m | 7:47PM0.67m | |||||||
— | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | |
6:17 | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 14 |
2495 | 1866 | 1638 | 1818 | 3422 | 2618 | 1422 | 1046 | 485 | 427 | 229 | 1024 | 3449 | 2480 | 1937 | 1355 | 648 | 446 | 1712 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 11 | WSW 16 | — | — | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | W 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 346 | 379 | 291 | 218 | 53 | — | — | 387 | 73 | 223 | 347 | 191 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SSW 14 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | 46 | 134 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 |
24 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 92 | 62 | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 9 | 35 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Dumps Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Dumps provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Dumps can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dumps 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 (Dumps) 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 Dumps 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 Dumps, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 6 km (4 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 14 km (9 miles) away, Robben Island, Kayamnandi and Stellenbosch.











