
Surf Forecasts:
Jacobs Bay surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 4,724 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Jacobs Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Jacobs Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 27s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Jacobs Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jacobs Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at the surf ahead for Jacobs Bay over the next couple of weeks.
The opening of the window isn't offering much on Monday, with a lumpy, cross-off wind and an 8ft swell making for messy, unappealing conditions. From Tuesday morning the 11th, things start to get interesting. We've got a clean 8ft SSW swell pushing in with a nice 13-second period and an offshore easterly breeze. That's going to be clean and chunky, but it's already over 6ft, so it's a session for the strong paddlers and experienced crew only at Jacobs Bay. The water temp is sitting about 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so grab the steamer if you’re heading out.
The real standout, though, is Wednesday the 12th. We're looking at a solid groundswell from the SW, around 6-6ft, with a super long 18-second period. That kind of period means real, powerful lines wrapping in. There’s a moderate offshore wind from the ENE in the morning turning to a straight E in the afternoon which will set the face up beautifully. The combined swell energy is right up there (2824), and even though this spot is fairly consistent, a groundswell this long can sometimes make the wave run a touch straight at the beach. Still, a top-tier morning for those who know what they're doing.
The quality carries into Thursday the 13th with another solid 8ft WSW swell and a 17-second period backing it, but a strong cross-off wind in the morning and then a shifting wind in the arvo makes it a bit trickier to grab the peak of it. Best to catch the morning if you're considering it but conditions won't be as clean as Wednesday.
We hit a small lull around the 14th and 15th, but there's some glassy conditions worth noting. Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th both have flat calm mornings with barely a breath of wind and a clean 6-6ft WSW groundswell rolling in. Solid energy numbers for the size (over 1000), and that glassy surface will be a treat. The wave direction is a little onshore in the afternoons, so get out early.
After that, Monday the 17th sees a serious pulse: a 10ft swell hitting with an absolutely massive combined energy reading of 4372. This is too big for what Jacobs Bay can handle, and even by Monday afternoon, it’s over the top. You’ll want to sit this one out unless you’re on a big-wave gun and know the channel well. Similar story to start Tuesday the 18th: still too much size for comfort and wonky winds.
From Wednesday the 19th to the 20th, the size drops a bit but stays around the 7ft mark with 12-second period. Winds are cross-off but fresh, and the overall quality is average to poor, so nothing to get excited about. A big messy cross-shore on the 20th afternoon makes it unsurfable. We see some poor-quality junk and onshore junk around the 21st, too. The week after is a bit of a gap with mediocre conditions.
But just when you think it’s all fizzled out, we get another beauty on Sunday the 23rd... wait, no, the next real standout is much later: the 24th of August (Monday) is a cracker. A smaller 5ft SW groundswell with a nice 12-second period, glassy conditions, and not a breath of wind in the morning. It's smaller, which makes it more approachable and the energy is decent (1284). That morning will be super clean and fun for those who can make it.
So, to sum it up: Wednesday the 12th is the pick of the fortnight – big, clean groundswell with perfect offshores, but it’s a strong surfer's wave. If the bigger stuff isn’t your thing, the glassy mornings of the 15th, 16th, and 24th offer cleaner, more user-friendly conditions for a proper session.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Tue morning, strong winds from the NNE by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 | WSW 21 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
752 | 989 | 1635 | 1117 | 1717 | 2134 | 2138 | 1916 | 3378 | 2892 | 2200 | 1475 | 1752 | 1333 | 1306 | 1267 | 1179 | 1106 | 1189 | 1995 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:00AM1.47m | 2:31PM1.53m | 2:47AM1.55m | 3:13PM1.64m | 3:30AM1.59m | 3:52PM1.70m | 4:09AM1.58m | 4:29PM1.71m | 4:47AM1.53m | 5:05PM1.66m | 5:23AM1.45m | 5:39PM1.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:55PM0.25m | 8:19AM0.10m | 8:43PM0.13m | 9:01AM0.03m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:39AM-0.01m | 10:07PM0.01m | 10:16AM0.00m | 10:45PM0.03m | 10:51AM0.06m | 11:22PM0.09m | 11:24AM0.15m | 11:57PM0.19m | |||||||
— | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | S 10 | SSW 13 | S 12 | WSW 21 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
453 | 947 | 1635 | 1117 | 1717 | 2134 | 2138 | 1916 | 3378 | 2892 | 2200 | 1475 | 1752 | 1333 | 1306 | 1267 | 1179 | 1106 | 1189 | 1995 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | WSW 10 | SW 24 | SSW 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SW 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 17 |
184 | 989 | 41 | 280 | 247 | 172 | 164 | 1156 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1189 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 11 | SW 26 | WSW 10 | — | SW 11 | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 101 | 27 | 38 | — | 115 | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | E 3 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | E 4 | — | NE 5 | NNE 5 | N 5 | — | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
752 | — | 3 | 306 | 313 | 10 | — | 35 | 102 | 25 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 17 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 142 | 31 | 0 | 86 | 31 | 17 | 0 | 29 | 28 | 0 | 31 |
Best forecast wave conditions in West Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Jacobs Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Jacobs Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Jacobs Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Jacobs 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 (Jacobs 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 Jacobs 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.
Jacobs Bay is 8 km (5 miles) from the city of Saldanha. If you plan a holiday in West Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Saldanha. Saldanha has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











