Keurbooms Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s get into the outlook for our local stretch.

The water temperature at Keurbooms is sitting at 56°F right now, which is a massive 8°F colder than usual for this time of year. That’s seriously cold, so a thick wetsuit is non-negotiable.

We’ve got a pretty messy start to the week. Wednesday morning and afternoon are both a bit of a write-off with a 8ft SW swell pushing through, but it’s under cross-shore winds and the conditions are just marginal. The energy is massive though, at 2213 on Wednesday morning, so there’s plenty of power in the water, but it’s not clean.

The real standout of the entire 16-day window is Thursday morning, August 20th. We’ve got a solid 12ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is a light cross-shore and the conditions are clean. The energy is huge at 4870. Swell period is 14 seconds, a nice groundswell. However, 12ft is big, experienced-zone territory. It’s going to be a serious session for competent surfers only. The afternoon is similar, but a touch more cross-on.

Friday drops off quickly. The swell starts to fade, but the wind swings onshore and picks up, making for choppy, marginal surf. The combined energy drops to 1353 and then 1112. Not worth paddling out.

Saturday, August 22nd, offers a slight reprieve. The morning is a bit windy from the WSW, but the afternoon cleans up nicely. A 5ft SW swell with a light, clean cross-off wind and a combined energy of 921. The conditions are described as "very good," but the score is only a 3, so it’s a decent option, not a classic.

We then have a long stretch of marginal surf through the rest of the week. A mix of onshore, cross-on, and light winds with swells ranging from 4ft to 8ft. Nothing really grabs you. The energy stays moderate, between 990 and 1766.

The next real highlight comes on Wednesday, August 26th. Both morning and afternoon are looking excellent for experienced surfers. A 7ft SW swell with a 14-second period, light cross-off winds, and clean conditions. The energy is solid at 1850. This is a much more manageable size than the 20th but still has good power.

Conditions then go quiet again, with small, weak swells and poor surf through the end of August. The Friday afternoon of the 28th sees energy drop to just 81.

Then, on Saturday, August 29th, we get another big one, but it’s a warning, not a recommendation. A 12ft SW swell, energy at 4404, but with a strong onshore and cross-onshore wind, making it choppy and poor. This one is for the kite surfers, not the paddle crew.

The final standout is on Monday, September 1st. The morning is clean with a 7ft SW swell and a 15-second period, but the real gem is the afternoon. Glassy conditions, a 6ft SW swell, and 15-second period. The energy is 2078. Excellent surf for experienced surfers. This one is a session to keep an eye on, but it’s a long way out.

The forecast then fades out into small, weak surf by the end of the first week of September.

The pick of the trip: If you’re a confident surfer, Thursday morning, August 20th, is the biggest and most powerful day. For a more manageable but still excellent session, Wednesday, August 26th, is your best bet. And for a glassy, long-period gem, keep an eye on Monday, September 1st.

Rusty.

Read more