
Surf Forecasts:
Jacobs Bay surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,820 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period with SW 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Jacobs Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jacobs Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag around here, so let’s break it down day by day.
The ocean’s got some life in it, but the wind is going to be the story for a while. We’ve got a solid SW groundswell pushing through, with water temps sitting at 56°, which is a couple of degrees colder than we’d expect for this time of year, so you’ll want the thick rubber.
Our first real chance to get wet is on Saturday the 12th. It’s not going to be perfect, mind you. Jacobs Bay is seeing a 6ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (1976). The SSE wind is cross-off, so it’s got some shape to it, and the surface is clean. It’s a bit marginal though, and the water’s much colder than normal, so it’s not the day to be picky. Sunday the 13th looks better. The swell is still a solid 7ft from the same direction, and the morning has a gentle NNE cross-off breeze. That’s the standout of the first stretch. The energy is moderate (1972), and it’s shaping up nicely for those of you who know what you’re doing.
Monday the 14th is a write-off. It’s messy, with a fresh cross-shore and lumpy chop, so give it a miss. Tuesday the 15th is much the same – chopped up and onshore.
Now, Wednesday the 16th has some size, with 8ft on the morning, and the energy is strong (3295). But that S wind is cross-shore, making it messy. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest. Thursday the 17th is cleaner, with a SSE cross-off, but the swell has dropped to 5ft, and it’s still just marginal. The wind really howls on Friday the 18th, with strong cross-shore winds and bumpy conditions. Not worth it.
The weekend brings the best conditions. Sunday the 20th is the standout of the whole run. The morning sees a light E offshore wind, glassy and clean, with a 6ft SW swell and a 13-second period. The energy is moderate (1166). That’s the one to circle. Light offshore, clean lines. That’s what it’s all about. Saturday the 19th has potential, but the cross-off wind is fresher, making it less clean.
After that, we drop off. The swell fades into the 4ft range on Monday the 21st, and it gets small and choppy through Tuesday the 22nd. The middle of the next week, the 23rd and 24th, sees some inconsistent SW swell in the 5-6ft range, but the winds are mostly cross or onshore, so it’s not going to be great.
The following weekend, the 26th and 27th, we see another push of long-period SW groundswell. The energy is strong (2806), but the winds are cross and fresh, and the surface is bumpy. It’s a lot of water moving for not much reward if the wind doesn’t play ball.
So, keep it simple. Sunday the 13th and Sunday the 20th are your best bets. The 20th is the pick of the pair, with that offshore wind. The long-range stuff for the 27th is promising for size but is less certain with the wind. Keep an eye on it.
Stay stoked.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Tue night, strong winds from the SSE by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | NW 7 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1382 | 1704 | 2668 | 1804 | 1226 | 814 | 488 | 543 | 259 | 224 | 1271 | 3820 | 2743 | 1541 | 854 | 711 | 628 | 624 | 802 | 1733 | 2220 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:58PM1.70m | 4:17AM1.54m | 4:29PM1.64m | 4:49AM1.47m | 5:00PM1.54m | 5:19AM1.37m | 5:30PM1.41m | 5:51AM1.26m | 6:01PM1.28m | 6:25AM1.14m | 6:38PM1.14m | 7:13AM1.02m | 7:34PM1.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:48AM0.03m | 10:14PM0.01m | 10:19AM0.08m | 10:45PM0.07m | 10:50AM0.17m | 11:15PM0.17m | 11:19AM0.27m | 11:44PM0.29m | 11:49AM0.39m | 00:16AM0.41m | 12:21PM0.51m | 00:54AM0.54m | 1:06PM0.64m | 2:04AM0.64m | |||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
1382 | 1704 | 2668 | 1804 | 1226 | 814 | 488 | 355 | 259 | 224 | 1271 | 3820 | 2743 | 1541 | 854 | 711 | 628 | 624 | 802 | 1733 | 2220 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 17 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WSW 7 | NNW 6 | WSW 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | SW 11 | W 11 | — |
— | 929 | 299 | 168 | 95 | 51 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 175 | 82 | 30 | 547 | 427 | 334 | 144 | 137 | 61 | 455 | 9 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | — | NNW 6 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | — | 32 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 8 | — | — | — | N 4 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | — | S 5 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
594 | 733 | — | — | — | 13 | 175 | 543 | 248 | 164 | 88 | — | 134 | 364 | 458 | 233 | 181 | 311 | 428 | 554 | 284 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 99 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 86 | 200 | 468 | 192 | 319 | 319 | 97 | 29 | 84 | 28 | 28 | 106 | 28 | 400 | 488 | 115 |
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.










