Dunes surfForecast / Cape Town / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 am Tuesday 12 May 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Dunes surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Dunes sea temperature is
17.3° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dunes this week:

The surf forecast for Dunes over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 13) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Dunes in the next 16 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 12) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Monday (May 18) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Wed 13th May)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Best Surf11AM (Wed 13th May)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 8AM (Tue 12th May)13ft (4.0m) 12s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Tue night, calm by Thu afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Fri morning, strong winds from the SE by Sun night).

Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
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
!
!
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
3
1
1
1
3
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
W
12
3
SW
13
3
SSW
12
3.5
SSW
12
3.5
SSW
12
2.5
SSW
12
2.2
SSW
11
1.9
SSW
11
1.3
S
15
2.4
S
14
2.1
WSW
15
2.1
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
13
2
WSW
15
2
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3919
3049
2426
3060
3230
2037
1220
823
716
2186
1937
1629
1151
894
669
876
1002
1127
1626
1411
1159
Wind (km/h)
25
NW
25
W
35
WSW
20
WSW
10
WSW
5
S
10
SSE
5
SSW
5
S
15
SSE
30
SSE
30
SE
30
SE
25
SE
25
SE
40
SE
40
SE
40
SE
35
ESE
35
SE
20
ESE
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
11:55AM1.17m
00:10AM1.39m
12:45PM1.29m
00:55AM1.50m
1:30PM1.39m
1:39AM1.59m
2:14PM1.47m
2:23AM1.65m
2:57PM1.52m
3:08AM1.66m
3:42PM1.54m
3:55AM1.62m
4:28PM1.51m
4:43AM1.54m
Low Tide
5:54PM0.40m
6:38AM0.25m
6:43PM0.30m
7:22AM0.12m
7:28PM0.22m
8:04AM0.02m
8:13PM0.15m
8:47AM-0.03m
8:58PM0.10m
9:30AM-0.04m
9:45PM0.10m
10:15AM-0.00m
10:33PM0.14m
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
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>
7:28
7:30
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:33
7:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:55
5:54
5:53
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:51
4
2
Temp °C
16
17
16
15
16
15
14
15
16
16
17
16
15
19
18
16
17
17
16
19
18
13
14
12
9
12
12
12
13
16
16
14
11
10
15
14
10
11
10
10
14
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
W
12
3
SW
13
3
SSW
12
3.5
SSW
12
3.5
SSW
12
2.5
SSW
12
2.2
SSW
11
1.9
SSW
11
1.7
SSW
11
2.4
S
14
2.3
S
13
2.1
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
13
2
WSW
15
2
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
Energy kJ
3919
3049
2216
3060
3230
2037
1220
823
604
2186
1866
1629
1151
894
669
876
1002
1127
1626
1411
1159
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SSW
13
3
W
12
2.5
W
12
2.1
W
11
1.9
WSW
11
1.7
WSW
11
1.6
WSW
12
1.3
S
15
1.3
SW
11
2.1
WSW
15
1.8
S
13
1.5
S
12
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
11
1
S
11
0.5
S
14
0.4
S
13
0.3
SSE
12
Energy kJ
3214
2180
1644
1147
828
716
718
716
375
1937
1077
646
469
303
235
93
53
28
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SE
12
1.4
NW
9
0.1
SE
11
0.1
SW
20
0.4
SW
18
0.4
WSW
17
1.3
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
15
0.9
SW
12
0.1
W
15
0.1
W
13
0.4
S
14
0.4
S
10
0.1
S
17
Energy kJ
6
323
5
15
81
119
506
653
220
4
3
58
32
6
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
NW
9
2.4
W
12
3
W
12
0.6
SSE
3
1.5
SE
5
1.6
SE
6
1.5
SE
6
1.3
SE
6
1.9
SSE
11
1.7
SSE
11
1.7
SSE
5
1.8
SE
6
2.3
SSE
7
2.2
SE
7
Energy kJ
721
1624
2426
9
119
175
154
124
822
638
153
217
479
449
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
3
4
4
Distance (km)
8
20
161
12
2
0
0
0
0
1
407
4
0
0
0
29
161
23
11
19
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
4
4
4
8
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
9
8
9
4
8
5
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Dunes:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Dunes surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Dunes Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Dunes provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Dunes can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dunes 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 (Dunes) 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 Dunes 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 Dunes, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 24 km (15 miles) away. Other places in and around Cape Town where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Robben Island which is 35 km (22 miles) away, Bellville, Kayamnandi and Stellenbosch.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest