Hout Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a proper look at the surf over the next couple of weeks for this stretch of coastline. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some definite gems if you can wait it out.

Right now, we’re coming off a pretty poor run. The forecast starts with a bit of a dud. Friday the 21st and Saturday morning the 22nd are not worth paddling out for – we’re looking at onshore winds and messy conditions. The water temperature is nothing special for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday afternoon the 22nd. The swell is a clean 1.6m from the SW with a period of 11 seconds, and critically, we’ve got offshore winds from the NNW. That means clean faces at Hout Bay. The combined energy is 656 (moderate), so there’s a bit of push. It’s a beginner spot that’s usually inconsistent, but with those conditions, it could be a fun session for the less experienced crew.

We then hit a rough patch from Sunday the 23rd right through to Wednesday the 27th morning. Winds are predominantly onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is either too raw or just messy. It's a full five-day gap of poor surf.

The first real standout is Thursday morning, the 28th of August at Hout Bay. We’ve got a solid 1.6m SW groundswell with a period of 14 seconds, and light offshore cross-off winds from the north. This is a proper groundswell, meaning long lines and good shape off the point. The combined energy is a strong 1209 (strong). This is the first day where it all comes together – clean, consistent, and with a decent amount of power. This is the one to circle.

Saturday morning, the 30th of August sees another promising window. The swell is a touch bigger at 1.7m from the WSW, again with a 14-second period, and light offshore winds. Combined energy is 1385 (strong). It looks very similar to the Thursday morning session, but the weather might be a bit moodier with some light rain. Still, the surf quality should be top-notch.

Further out, the real monster is brewing. Thursday the 4th of September looks absolutely massive, but it’s for experts only. The swell is a beast at over 5.0m with a very long 15-second period from the WSW. Combined energy is over 10,000 (very strong). Friday morning the 4th offers a brief window of glassy conditions with that massive 5.0m SW groundswell (combined energy 10884), which would be a truly special, heavy session for the experienced crew. This is a very long-range outlook, but the potential is there.

So, to sum it up: this week is mostly a washout, but next week (from the 28th) is where it gets interesting. Thursday the 28th of August and Saturday the 30th of August are your best bets for clean, powerful, chest-to-head-high waves with good winds. If you’re an expert, keep an eye on that huge swell around the 4th and 5th of September.

Stay patient, lads. We’ll get there.

Rusty.

Read more