Horse Trails surf break

Horse Trails surfForecast / Cape Town / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 am Monday 11 May 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Horse Trails surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Horse Trails sea temperature is
15.5° C
(Which is 1.7°C colder than average for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Horse Trails this week:

The surf forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 12) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 7.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Tue 12th May)13ft (4.0m) 13s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 12th May)13ft (4.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 2PM (Mon 11th May)25ft (7.5m) 13s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 57mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (gales from the NNW on Mon morning, calm by Wed night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
11
Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
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
!
0
0
!
!
4
4
3
3
3
2
4
4
2
3
2
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
7
W
12
7.5
W
13
5.5
WSW
13
4
W
13
3.5
W
12
2.5
W
12
3
SSW
12
3
SSW
12
2.5
SSW
12
2
SSW
11
1.7
SSW
11
2
S
14
2.3
SSW
14
2
S
13
2.1
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
13
1.5
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
13694
18261
9462
4715
3374
2035
2144
2503
1657
926
685
1622
1984
1419
1629
1226
871
679
462
768
837
Wind (km/h)
65
NW
55
WNW
30
NW
30
NNW
20
WSW
20
W
20
SW
10
SW
5
SE
5
SSE
5
SSW
5
S
15
SSE
20
S
15
SE
15
SE
15
SSE
15
SE
20
SE
25
SSE
15
SE
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
on
on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
10:56AM1.08m
11:22PM1.27m
11:55AM1.18m
00:10AM1.39m
12:45PM1.29m
00:55AM1.50m
1:30PM1.40m
1:39AM1.59m
2:14PM1.48m
2:23AM1.65m
2:57PM1.53m
3:08AM1.66m
3:42PM1.54m
3:55AM1.62m
Low Tide
4:58PM0.48m
5:51AM0.38m
5:54PM0.40m
6:38AM0.24m
6:43PM0.30m
7:21AM0.11m
7:29PM0.22m
8:04AM0.02m
8:13PM0.14m
8:46AM-0.04m
8:59PM0.10m
9:30AM-0.05m
9:45PM0.10m
heavy rain
mod rain
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:28
7:28
7:28
7:30
7:31
7:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:55
5:54
5:53
5:53
5:52
5:52
24
7
12
3
8
3
Temp °C
17
18
18
16
18
16
16
16
15
14
15
16
17
19
16
16
20
18
16
19
17
6
8
11
15
12
14
11
13
13
13
13
15
16
17
14
14
18
16
13
15
15
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
5.5
WSW
13
3
SW
12
3.5
W
12
2.5
W
12
3
SSW
12
3
SSW
12
2.5
SSW
12
2
SSW
11
1.7
SSW
11
2
S
14
2.3
SSW
14
2
S
13
2.1
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
13
1.2
WSW
13
1.5
WSW
13
1.6
WSW
13
Energy kJ
9462
2468
3374
2035
2144
2503
1657
926
685
1622
1984
1419
1629
1226
871
679
462
768
837
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
13
2.5
SSW
12
2.4
SSW
12
2.3
W
11
2
W
11
1.7
WSW
11
1.6
WSW
11
1.5
WSW
11
1.4
WSW
11
1.1
WSW
12
1.7
WSW
15
1.7
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.9
S
11
1
S
7
0.6
S
11
0.4
S
10
Energy kJ
3263
2083
1527
1371
1006
737
603
553
504
317
1241
971
480
339
199
100
81
31
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
20
0.3
WSW
18
0.5
S
13
0.8
WSW
16
1.1
WSW
15
0.1
W
15
0.8
S
11
0.3
S
13
Energy kJ
8
61
92
302
525
4
149
30
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
7
W
12
7.5
W
13
1.7
NW
9
4
W
13
0.8
S
5
1.1
S
6
1.1
S
6
1
S
7
1.3
SSE
6
1.2
S
6
1
S
7
Energy kJ
13694
18261
513
4715
27
88
98
100
149
123
89
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
886
1013
31
31
36
36
127
31
0
0
0
2
2
41
0
0
2
0
2
401
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
5
6
6
4
4
4
5
4
4
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
9
9
8
9
5
6
5
5
7
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
4
4
  • 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 Horse Trails Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Horse Trails provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Horse Trails can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Horse Trails 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 (Horse Trails) 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 Horse Trails 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.

Horse Trails 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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