Long Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.13° S 18.33° E

Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Long Beach sea temperature is
14.7° C
0.9° 

Long Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Long Beach surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 9,142 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 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 (Jul 16) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Long Beach in the next 16 days are 4.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 16th Jul)7ft (2.2m) 12s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 23rd Jul)13ft (4.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 5PM (Thu 23rd Jul)13ft (4.0m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Long Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks for Long Beach.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up. The first few days are actually pretty decent, but then things get sloppy and blown out for a stretch, before a serious pulse of big, clean swell arrives in the back half of the window. The real standout is going to be that later period, especially for experienced surfers.

Thursday afternoon, July 16th, kicks things off with a solid 8ft SW swell at 13 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (1645), and with a light cross-offshore breeze, it's clean. Water temp is 59°, which is about normal for this time of year. That’s a good session to start.

Friday July 17th is a beauty. Morning is glassy, calm, with a 6ft SW swell (11 seconds). The energy drops a bit (835), but the conditions are pure glass. Afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off. This is a real treat.

Saturday July 18th, the wind switches. Morning is a cross-on with a 5ft swell, and it gets weaker in the afternoon. Still surfable but the quality drops. Sunday July 19th is a write-off in the morning – strong cross-on wind and poor surf. But don’t write it off entirely; Sunday afternoon cleans right up with a 6ft SW swell and a cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (1098), and it’s a solid window.

Monday July 20th is worth an early alarm. Clear skies, glassy conditions, and a 5ft SSW swell. That’s a clean, fun morning. The afternoon goes a bit slack.

Alright, now here’s where it gets rough. From Tuesday July 21st through Wednesday July 23rd, the wind comes on strong. We’re looking at strong onshore and cross-on winds, with the swell jumping to 15ft on Wednesday. The energy is very strong (6795), but the wind is a mess. That’s not a paddle session; that setup is more interesting for kite surfing.

Thursday July 24th is where things turn a corner. Friday morning July 24th, we get an 12ft SW swell, long period at 15 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze. The energy is strong (5020), and the conditions are clean. This is very good for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays clean with a 10ft swell.

The real standout, the one you’re waiting for, is Saturday July 25th and Sunday July 26th. Saturday morning has a 13ft SW swell with a 16-second period, massive energy (7147), and clean conditions with a cross-off breeze. Sunday July 26th is the absolute peak: 12ft SW swell, 16 seconds, and a clean offshore breeze. The energy is very strong (6297). This is excellent, powerful surf for expert surfers only. The long period means it will be breaking straight at the beach, so look for a point or a reef if you want a better shape.

Monday July 27th and Tuesday July 28th still have good size, 7ft to 8ft, with clean conditions. Tuesday afternoon is a highlight with a glassy 8ft WSW swell, very long period at 15 seconds. That’s another clean, powerful session.

After that, the swell starts to fade and the wind gets messy again from Wednesday July 29th onward. July 30th and 31st are blown out and poor.

So, in short: get on it July 16th through July 20th for clean, fun waves. Then brace for a foul stretch. The real gold is the 24th through the 28th, with Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th being the absolute best on offer for experienced chargers. The crowds at Long Beach can be a thing, so be ready for that on the good days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu night, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, strong winds from the NNW by Wed morning).

Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
1
0
1
0
2
2
2
0
2
3
2
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SW
12
1.9
SW
11
1.8
SW
10
1.4
SW
10
1.6
SW
9
1.1
SW
12
1.3
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.6
SW
11
1.5
SW
11
1.2
SW
9
0.8
SW
10
0.8
SSW
16
2.1
SSW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
2.5
SW
13
2.5
WSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1313
835
626
369
405
346
520
723
617
563
237
153
284
1686
3126
3734
2172
1908
1913
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
0
SSW
5
WSW
5
WSW
5
NW
10
NW
15
NW
15
NNW
5
W
10
SSW
5
W
10
NNW
5
N
5
NE
10
NW
35
NNW
35
NW
25
NW
20
N
Wind State
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
High Tide
5:11AM1.48m
5:37PM1.59m
5:54AM1.39m
6:19PM1.52m
6:37AM1.28m
7:00PM1.42m
7:22AM1.17m
7:44PM1.31m
8:13AM1.07m
8:36PM1.19m
9:20AM1.00m
9:43PM1.11m
Low Tide
11:11PM0.10m
11:20AM0.07m
11:55PM0.16m
12:00PM0.16m
00:39AM0.24m
12:39PM0.27m
1:24AM0.34m
1:20PM0.39m
2:13AM0.43m
2:08PM0.51m
3:14AM0.51m
3:12PM0.60m
4:33AM0.55m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:48
7:48
7:48
7:48
7:47
7:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:54
5:55
5:55
5:57
5:58
5:58
5:59
 mm
1
2
Temp °C
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
15
16
15
15
17
16
15
16
15
15
16
15
Feels °C
17
17
16
16
16
15
15
13
15
14
15
15
14
14
15
12
9
11
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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