
Surf Forecasts:
Hullets Reef surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,804 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hullets Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Hullets Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hullets Reef in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hullets Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. We’ve got one spot on the radar for the next sixteen days and it’s a proper reef setup that’s going to see plenty of action.
Hullets Reef is the only game in town for this outlook, and it’s a reef break that’s fairly consistent, exposed to the swell, and needs a SE direction to really line up. It’s rated for beginners but don’t let that fool you – the size coming through will sort out the crew quick smart. The water temp? It’s sitting around average for the time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
The opening window, Thursday the 16th through Friday the 17th, kicks off with some serious grunt. We’re talking 8 ft to 10 ft of SW swell, periods hanging in the 12 to 14 second range, and combined energy readings like 3236 and 2077 – that’s strong wave energy. Winds are cross-off and light, so the face is clean. This is proper groundswell and the reef will handle it beautifully, but at this size, it’s expert territory. Beginners, sit this one out.
Saturday the 18th eases back a touch in the morning to 4 ft, but the energy drops hard to 737 – weak. The afternoon picks back up to 7 ft with 1926 energy, still cross-off but the breeze gets up to 12 mph. It’s a mixed bag, and the scores reflect that: marginal.
Sunday the 19th looks gnarly but messy. The swell jumps to 12 ft in the morning and the westerly hits 25 mph – cross-off, but that’s a strong breeze. Combined energy is 2378, so there’s power, but with 10-second period and that wind, the surface will be lumpy. Score is a 1. Not worth it unless you’re chasing a beating.
By Monday the 20th, we get a shift. The morning is a 5 ft with cross-on wind, light breeze, and energy down to 806. That’s weak. But the afternoon flips: offshore wind from WSW at 9 mph, 6 ft SSW swell at 11 seconds, energy 869. That’s clean, rideable, and the scores call it “very good” – a solid window for a mid-range paddle.
Tuesday the 21st brings a groundswell pulse. Morning sees 10 ft at 15 seconds – that’s a very long period, and combined energy is 3325. Winds are cross-off. The afternoon goes up to 12 ft and 15 seconds with energy at 4639. This is powerful, straight-tracking swell. On a reef like this, it’ll hold its shape, but the size is serious. Only for the experienced.
Wednesday the 22nd stays heavy. 12 ft SW with 13-second period, light breeze, clean. Energy at 3791. The afternoon drops to 10 ft but still strong at 2818. Scores are 4/5, and it’s calling it excellent. This is the kind of day that reefies dream of – big, clean, and powerful.
Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th see a gradual drop. Thursday holds 12 ft to 10 ft, moderate breeze, marginal scores. Friday morning goes offshore, 5 ft SSW, 11 seconds, energy 578 – weak, but clean and small, so it’s a good beginner window if the reef isn’t too shallow.
Saturday the 25th is a standout. Morning delivers 10 ft at 17 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell – with energy at 5556. That’s strong to very strong. Afternoon is 12 ft at 15 seconds, energy 5039. Light to moderate cross-off winds. This is one for the log book, but again, size means experts only.
Sunday the 26th: morning has 10 ft at 14 seconds, but the wind is onshore, light. Tough. Afternoon goes glassy, E at 3 mph. That’s a trade-off: 10 ft and glassy, but it’s a SW swell on an onshore morning. The afternoon glass-off could be epic if the tide cooperates – the score 4/5 backs that up.
Monday the 27th into Tuesday the 28th drops in size – 7 ft and 6 ft, with 14-second period, but winds turn onshore or cross-on. Energy drops from 2869 to 1601. Marginal. The shape will suffer.
Wednesday the 29th is a write-off. 6 ft but the wind hits 31 mph from WSW – that’s near gale. Clean, but you won’t be able to hold your line. Score zero. Not for surfing.
Thursday the 30th is worse. 15 ft to 16 ft, moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds, combined energy hitting 11452 – extreme. This is a full-on windswell mess. That’s kite territory, not paddle.
Friday the 31st: 13 ft, cross-on, moderate breeze, energy 5373. Choppy, lumpy, big. Hard pass.
Summing it up: the first few days and the 25th are the real standouts for experienced surfers. Beginners can find a window Friday the 24th or the afternoon of Monday the 20th. The end of the run is a mess – big but blown out.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed night, calm by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat night, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Sun morning, light winds from the SSW by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wed 22 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1055 | 3095 | 2221 | 1703 | 1977 | 1293 | 745 | 357 | 981 | 1553 | 2262 | 1175 | 752 | 524 | 700 | 959 | 3227 | 4556 | 4788 | 3759 | 2789 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:51AM1.64m | 5:19PM1.71m | 5:31AM1.58m | 5:59PM1.68m | 6:09AM1.48m | 6:38PM1.60m | 6:47AM1.37m | 7:17PM1.50m | 7:26AM1.25m | 7:57PM1.37m | 8:11AM1.13m | 8:45PM1.24m | 9:11AM1.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:48PM0.09m | 11:03AM-0.00m | 11:30PM0.12m | 11:40AM0.04m | 00:11AM0.18m | 12:17PM0.11m | 00:52AM0.27m | 12:52PM0.22m | 1:32AM0.38m | 1:29PM0.35m | 2:16AM0.49m | 2:10PM0.49m | 3:11AM0.58m | 3:06PM0.61m | |||||||
— | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | |
5:28 | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Feels °C | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | S 10 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
869 | 3095 | 2221 | 1703 | 1977 | 1293 | 745 | 309 | 626 | 1296 | 78 | 178 | 752 | 524 | 700 | 959 | 3227 | 4556 | 4788 | 3759 | 2789 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | E 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
1001 | 141 | 146 | 108 | 100 | 72 | 72 | 357 | 248 | 119 | 31 | 70 | 173 | 89 | 150 | 142 | 90 | 75 | 55 | 26 | 27 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | S 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 13 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
98 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 114 | 71 | 71 | 48 | 7 | 17 | 31 | 193 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1055 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 981 | 1553 | 2262 | 1175 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 134 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Hullets Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Hullets Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Hullets Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Hullets Reef 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 (Hullets Reef) 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 Hullets Reef 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.
Hullets Reef is 21 km (13 miles) from the city of Kruisfontein. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Kruisfontein. Kruisfontein has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











