Surf Forecasts:
Eerste Steen surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with 3,562 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period with SW 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 16s. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Eerste Steen over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let's break down the next couple of weeks. First thing, the water's chilly – 55°F, which is about 5°F colder than usual for this time of year. You'll want a thick suit.
Honestly, the first week is a bit of a letdown. We've got plenty of swell but the wind is going to ruin a lot of it. There's a run of poor, choppy conditions right through the middle of next week.
Don't bother paddling out Tuesday the 15th. There's a 6ft NW windswell, but with a 25 mph cross-shore, it's just a mess. The next few days, the swell shifts to the SW and builds to 6ft and even 7ft, but those fresh to strong cross-shore winds keep it lumpy and ugly. Thursday the 17th morning cleans up a little with a SW swell, but it's still only marginal. Friday and Saturday mornings are similar – clean-ish but nothing special.
Here's the one you've been waiting for. Tuesday the 29th of September is the clear standout. We've got a 5ft SW swell, but the period is 16 seconds. That's a real deep-ocean groundswell with a ton of energy. The combined swell energy is a healthy 1735. And the wind? A light offshore breeze from the SE at just 9 mph. That’s going to leave Eerste Steen glassy and perfect. For an intermediate wave, that's as good as it gets. That long period will give you clean, powerful lines with plenty of time between sets. It's a morning for the experienced guys to shine.
Before that, Sunday the 28th offers some size at 7ft to 8ft, but it's a shorter-period S swell (10 seconds) and the cross-shore wind will keep it choppy. That 8ft wave is expert territory, and with the wind, it won't be pretty.
After the 29th, the swell fades fast. By Wednesday the 30th, we're down to 3ft and the wind turns onshore, so the window closes.
So here’s the takeaway: the first week is a write-off because of the wind. Your one to circle on the calendar is that Tuesday the 29th morning at Eerste Steen. It's over a week away, so don't book time off work just yet, but it's looking like the best shot we've got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the SE by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Fri night, fresh winds from the SSE by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 6 | SW 16 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 217 | 813 | 3430 | 983 | 1193 | 2049 | 1293 | 929 | 673 | 701 | 976 | 851 | 514 | 667 | 846 | 1330 | 1428 | 1066 | 769 | 565 | 366 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:29PM1.40m | 5:49AM1.24m | 6:00PM1.27m | 6:24AM1.13m | 6:36PM1.13m | 7:10AM1.01m | 7:30PM1.00m | 8:48AM0.92m | 9:37PM0.93m | 11:20AM0.96m | 11:39PM0.99m | 12:26PM1.08m | 00:34AM1.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:18AM0.26m | 11:44PM0.28m | 11:48AM0.38m | 00:15AM0.41m | 12:20PM0.51m | 00:53AM0.53m | 1:03PM0.63m | 2:02AM0.64m | 2:56PM0.73m | 4:47AM0.65m | 5:47PM0.67m | 6:11AM0.55m | 6:42PM0.56m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:40 | — |
mm | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 |
| kJ | 168 | 813 | 3430 | 983 | 1193 | 2049 | 1293 | 929 | 673 | 701 | 976 | 851 | 514 | 667 | 846 | 1330 | 1428 | 1066 | 769 | 565 | 366 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | — | WNW 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 12 | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 152 | — | 164 | 596 | 767 | 446 | — | — | — | 245 | 12 | 66 | 217 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 7 | — | SW 9 | S 6 | — | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | 217 | 539 | — | 798 | 158 | — | 250 | 328 | 212 | 127 | 269 | 131 | 172 | 271 | 248 | 235 | 166 | 59 | 19 | 15 | 32 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 276 | 194 | 127 | 323 | 161 | 2 | 60 | 163 | 60 | 1286 | 1286 | 2 | 1 | 362 | 94 | 94 | 341 | 2 | 2 | 456 | 0 |
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.
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