
Surf Forecasts:
Eerste Steen surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with 7,752 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Eerste Steen this week:
The surf forecast for Eerste Steen over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Eerste Steen in the next 16 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Eerste Steen over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board and wax—here’s how the next few weeks are shaping up for Eerste Steen (South Africa). We’ve got a solid run of swell and wind lining up, but you’ll need to pick your moments carefully.
The water is sitting at 57°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year—about 3°F off the average. Nothing crazy, but you’ll want a decent spring suit.
We kick off on Wednesday 22 July with a building SW swell—7 ft at 12 seconds—and the combined energy is already pumping at 1251 (moderate to strong). Winds are light and cross in the morning, so the surf is rideable but a little messy. By Thursday afternoon, though, things clean right up: 7 ft SW swell, 11 seconds, and a gentle cross-off breeze from the NNE. That’s your first real window for experienced surfers—the energy jumps to 1847 and the face is clean.
Friday morning is the standout of the whole outlook. The swell jumps to 12 ft from the SW with a 14-second period—that’s groundswell, proper. The combined energy hits 4362 (very strong). Glassy offshore E wind at 5 km/h (3 mph). This is a big, powerful wave, and it’s only for experienced surfers—over 8 ft means it’s expert territory. Long period like this will make it steep and lined up, but at a beach break it can close out. Still, if you’ve got the skill, Friday morning is *the* session.
Saturday morning the 25th is still solid—7 ft SW, 13 seconds, light cross-off breeze, clean. Energy at 1855. Another good call for intermediates and above.
Sunday morning the 26th is glassy with an E wind, 6 ft SW, 11 seconds—that’s clean, forgiving, and a joy to surf. The energy is moderate at 1226, but the glassy conditions make it special.
The following week (Monday 27 July through to early August) keeps a steady pulse of SW swell, mostly in the 6 ft–8 ft range, with clean cross-off winds from the SE. The Tuesday 28th afternoon window is particularly good: 8 ft SW, 15 seconds (very long period), combined energy of 2964 (strong), and clean cross-off winds. That’s a big, powerful swell for experts again.
By Friday 31 July, the swell drops to 4 ft with offshore winds—small but clean, good for a longboard or a fun session.
Things go quiet into the first weekend of August, with swell dropping below 3 ft on Saturday 1 August. The energy is weak (177), and conditions are ordinary.
But there’s a second pulse arriving around Sunday 2 August: 4 ft SW, 12 seconds, clean cross-off winds, energy around 476. That’s small but fun. Monday 3 August keeps it going with 4 ft–5 ft swell and clean winds.
The run from Wednesday 5 August into Thursday 6 August looks poor—strong cross-winds and lumpy, messy surf. However, Thursday morning the 6th turns glassy again with a 4 ft SSW swell, 12 seconds—that’s a clean, gentle session for the end of the outlook.
So, to sum it up: the absolute best is Friday 24 July morning for the big, glassy, 12 ft SW groundswell—for experts only. For the rest of us, Thursday 23 July afternoon and Sunday 26 July morning offer the best combo of size, clean conditions, and energy.
Stay sharp, surf safe, and don’t sleep on that Friday morning.
— Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Thu morning, light winds from the E by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1209 | 1125 | 816 | 759 | 1110 | 7500 | 4362 | 3544 | 2281 | 1325 | 1404 | 1169 | 914 | 1149 | 1226 | 895 | 1514 | 1895 | 2650 | 2650 | 1956 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:22AM1.00m | 9:43PM1.11m | 10:48AM0.98m | 11:05PM1.08m | 12:11PM1.02m | 00:19AM1.11m | 1:10PM1.09m | 1:14AM1.17m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:56AM1.25m | 2:29PM1.27m | 2:33AM1.32m | 3:02PM1.36m | 3:06AM1.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:14PM0.60m | 4:34AM0.55m | 4:48PM0.64m | 5:57AM0.53m | 6:16PM0.61m | 6:58AM0.46m | 7:16PM0.54m | 7:43AM0.38m | 7:59PM0.45m | 8:20AM0.30m | 8:36PM0.38m | 8:52AM0.23m | 9:09PM0.31m | ||||||||
7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
1209 | 1125 | 816 | 759 | 1110 | 7500 | 4362 | 3544 | 2281 | 1325 | 1404 | 1169 | 914 | 1149 | 1226 | 895 | 1514 | 1895 | 2650 | 2650 | 1956 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SW 16 | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | — | — | — | SSE 8 |
42 | 115 | 250 | 233 | 542 | — | — | — | — | 530 | 10 | — | 309 | 258 | 214 | 485 | 155 | — | — | — | 143 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 23 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 21 | 195 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 |
— | — | 10 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 104 | 126 | 1003 | 1113 | 582 | 314 | 322 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 31 | 5 | 82 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 127 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Eerste Steen Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Eerste Steen provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Eerste Steen can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Eerste Steen 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 (Eerste Steen) 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 Eerste Steen 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.
Eerste Steen is 8 km (5 miles) from the very large city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.










