Hout Bay surf break

Hout Bay surfForecast / Cape Town / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Tuesday 19 May 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Hout Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Hout Bay sea temperature is
16.2° C
(Which is 1.0°C colder than average for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hout Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Hout Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Hout Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (May 21) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 20th May)4.5ft (1.4m) 8s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 26th May)7ft (2.1m) 13s
Most Powerful11PM (Mon 25th May)8ft (2.5m) 15s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
0
1
0
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
SSE
9
2.5
SE
9
1.9
SE
9
0.7
WSW
12
0.4
WSW
11
0.6
SW
13
0.4
SW
20
0.7
SW
18
0.9
SW
16
1
SW
16
1.3
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
0.9
SW
14
1.5
SW
14
1.4
SW
13
1.9
SW
16
2.3
SW
14
2.2
SW
13
2
WSW
13
2.5
SW
14
1.9
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
616
1176
548
140
47
138
136
314
443
492
736
543
350
877
632
1672
1922
1551
1380
2256
1191
Wind (km/h)
25
SE
20
ESE
10
E
10
SSW
5
NW
15
NNW
15
NNW
15
N
10
NNW
10
S
10
SSE
10
SSE
15
S
10
SSE
10
SSE
10
SSE
15
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
10
SE
10
N
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-off
High Tide
5:17PM1.46m
5:34AM1.42m
6:11PM1.39m
6:31AM1.29m
7:12PM1.32m
7:38AM1.17m
8:23PM1.27m
8:57AM1.09m
9:38PM1.25m
10:19AM1.07m
10:47PM1.27m
11:29AM1.10m
11:44PM1.30m
12:24PM1.16m
Low Tide
11:26PM0.22m
11:52AM0.18m
00:24AM0.31m
12:48PM0.29m
1:33AM0.40m
1:52PM0.39m
2:54AM0.45m
3:06PM0.46m
4:17AM0.45m
4:22PM0.48m
5:27AM0.41m
5:28PM0.47m
6:20AM0.35m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:35
7:35
7:35
7:37
7:37
7:37
7:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:50
5:50
5:49
5:49
5:47
5:47
5:46
2
Temp °C
20
18
18
20
20
17
17
16
16
17
17
17
17
16
17
18
17
17
18
18
19
19
15
18
19
20
15
15
14
15
17
16
16
15
15
16
17
15
14
15
16
17
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
WSW
13
1.7
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
8
1
SSE
8
0.6
S
7
0.7
S
7
0.6
SW
12
0.7
SW
18
0.9
SW
16
1
SW
16
1.3
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1
SW
11
1.5
SW
14
1.4
SW
13
1.9
SW
16
2.3
SW
14
2.2
SW
13
2
WSW
13
2.5
SW
14
1.9
SW
13
Energy kJ
414
528
211
140
36
52
116
314
443
492
736
543
250
877
632
1672
1922
1551
1380
2256
1191
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
15
0.9
WSW
12
0.8
WSW
12
0.7
WSW
12
0.5
SE
8
0.6
SW
13
0.5
S
7
0.7
SW
11
0.7
SW
11
1
SSW
6
0.9
SSW
6
0.7
S
6
0.9
SW
14
0.1
SE
13
0.8
SW
17
0.2
SSE
12
0.2
SSE
11
0.2
SSE
11
1
SW
16
0.5
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
12
Energy kJ
17
233
180
119
30
138
26
126
115
73
68
35
350
7
330
14
12
11
521
101
258
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
20
0.5
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
11
0.4
WSW
11
0.2
SSE
11
0.4
SW
20
0.4
S
7
0.5
SSW
6
0.7
WSW
11
0.4
SW
16
0.1
S
9
0.1
W
11
0.2
SSE
12
0.2
SSE
10
0.1
SE
10
0.5
SSE
6
Energy kJ
8
74
70
47
11
136
14
18
99
94
2
2
14
10
4
21
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
SSE
9
2.5
SE
9
1.9
SE
9
0.2
NNW
2
0.4
NW
3
0.4
NW
3
0.4
NNW
3
0.6
S
6
0.4
SSE
5
0.2
SSE
5
0.6
SSE
3
0.7
SE
4
0.6
SSE
4
Energy kJ
616
1176
548
1
3
4
3
23
9
3
9
14
13
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
4
4
4
3
Distance (km)
14
3
3
5
0
13
0
0
0
3
3
3
5
3
3
3
3
5
5
3
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
3
1
3
2
3
3
4
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
5
5
7
5
5
9
6
5
5
4
4
4
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 Hout Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Hout Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Hout Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Hout Bay 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 (Hout Bay) 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 Hout Bay 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 Hout Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 16 km (10 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 27 km (17 miles) away, Bellville, Kayamnandi and Stellenbosch.

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