Surf Forecasts:
Long Beach surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 4,464 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Long Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Long Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Long Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) 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 1.9m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Long Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Grab your board, mate. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead at Long Beach, a sheltered sandbar setup that’s best for intermediate surfers. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
The big story is the burst of solid groundswell kicking off Thursday morning, the 20th of August. A hefty 12 ft swell rolling in from the SW, with a long 13-second period, pumping serious energy (3903). The wind is a gentle offshore from the SSE, which means clean, peeling waves. This is proper. It’s big, though – definitely for experienced surfers only. The afternoon drops to 10 ft, still solid, but the wind shifts to a cross-offshore, making it a bit more tricky.
Friday, the 21st, sees the swell drop to 6 ft, but the wind is a cross-offshore, keeping things clean. The energy is still moderate (1377). It’s not the standout, but it’s a good backup.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are a mixed bag. Saturday is a write-off with onshore winds and poor surf. Sunday, though, the 23rd, looks promising. A 8 ft SW groundswell (period 13 seconds) with a light SSE cross-offshore breeze in the morning, and then a clean offshore in the afternoon. The energy is strong (1850). That Sunday afternoon session is the one to wait for.
After that, the week from Monday the 24th to Saturday the 29th is a bit average. Swell sits around 4 ft to 8 ft, but the wind is mostly a fresh cross-offshore, keeping it clean but not epic. The 25th shows a 8 ft SW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is fresh, so it’s a bit of a battle.
Then, we get a massive pulse on Monday the 31st of August. A 13 ft WSW groundswell in the morning, but it’s onshore, so it’s messy. But the afternoon of the 31st is a true standout: 12 ft clean swell from the WSW, period 13 seconds, light offshore wind, and massive energy (4502). This is a big-wave day for the experienced crew only. The sets will be long and powerful.
Tuesday the 1st of September looks blown out, and Wednesday the 2nd is a complete mess with gale-force winds. The window closes from there, with a few small, clean days on the 3rd and 4th of September, but nothing to get excited about.
The best of the bunch is clearly the Thursday morning, 20th of August, for the big, clean groundswell, and the Monday afternoon, 31st of August, for another massive, clean swell. If you’re an experienced surfer, those are your days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Sat night, fresh winds from the SE by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 11 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
2418 | 3903 | 2536 | 1513 | 882 | 458 | 392 | 543 | 802 | 2066 | 1850 | 1546 | 1177 | 559 | 370 | 2038 | 2233 | 1465 | 1185 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:04AM0.99m | 8:30PM1.04m | 9:46AM0.92m | 10:24PM0.98m | 11:55AM0.96m | 00:06AM1.03m | 12:59PM1.06m | 1:02AM1.13m | 1:37PM1.18m | 1:41AM1.24m | 2:08PM1.31m | 2:13AM1.33m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:54AM0.54m | 1:55PM0.63m | 3:17AM0.62m | 3:49PM0.70m | 5:32AM0.61m | 6:07PM0.66m | 6:46AM0.52m | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:27AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | 7:59AM0.31m | 8:17PM0.34m | |||||||
— | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | |
6:19 | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 13 | SW 11 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 13 |
2418 | 3903 | 2536 | 1513 | 882 | 458 | 392 | 543 | 802 | 2066 | 1850 | 1546 | 1177 | 559 | 370 | 2038 | 2233 | 1465 | 1185 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | SSW 12 | — | — | — | SSW 10 | SW 11 | W 11 | — | SSW 15 | W 17 |
— | — | — | — | 495 | 316 | 291 | 198 | 27 | 193 | — | — | — | 189 | 258 | 154 | — | 144 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 118 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 173 | 352 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | W 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 |
— | — | — | 19 | 91 | 57 | — | 11 | 7 | — | — | — | 26 | 31 | 35 | 98 | 249 | 266 | 176 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 79 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Long Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Long Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Long Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Long Beach 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 (Long Beach) 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 Long Beach 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 Long Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 26 km (16 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 37 km (23 miles) away, Bellville, Stellenbosch and Kayamnandi.











