
Surf Forecasts:
Long Beach surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 4,373 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 18s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Long Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Long Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's talk about the stretch ahead. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so we gotta be patient and pick our moments.
The good news is there’s swell on the horizon, but the winds are gonna be the deciding factor on whether we get waves or washing machine conditions. We’re looking at a run that starts slow, builds into the middle of next week, and then gives us a couple of windows that look seriously promising.
Let’s break it down. First up, this Tuesday the 11th, the surf is there at Long Beach (a sheltered sandbar spot), with a chest to head-high swell around 6ft, but that East-Southeast wind is cranking at 19-25 mph. It’s cross-off but strong, so it's going to be blown out and messy. The energy is moderate, coming in at 1443. Not the day. You'd be fighting it more than riding it.
Wednesday the 12th looks a bit better. The swell picks up slightly to about 6-7ft, but the wind drops right off to a light breeze. The morning is cross, which will put some ripples on it, but Wednesday afternoon is where it’s at. A light Southeast cross-off is forecast to keep things clean, and the long-period groundswell from the Southwest is pumping in with a period of 17 seconds. It’s got strong energy at 2655. This is the first real standout. Long Beach will be working.
Thursday the 13th is a step back. Swell is up to 8ft in the morning, but the wind swings North-Northeast and is cross-on, making it a choppy mess. The period is still good at 17 seconds, but the conditions will be rough. The afternoon is a bit better with lighter wind, but it’s still cross-on, so you’ll be dodging ripples. The energy is strong, 3973, but it's not going to be pretty.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 14th, the energy drops back a bit to 1584, but the afternoon is forecast to be glassy. Swell is a solid 6ft with a 14-second period from the WSW. That’s clean, glassy, and absolutely perfect for Long Beach (sheltered). This is the other real standout, a genuine window of opportunity.
The weekend is a bit of a letdown. Saturday the 15th is average, with lighter winds but not the magic glass. Sunday the 16th though, look out. The morning is glassy with clean 6ft swell from the West-Southwest. Then the afternoon, the wind turns South-Southeast and blows offshore, cleaning up the 7ft waves even more. It’s moderate energy at 1621, but those clean conditions will make it feel like more. Another top pick.
After that, Monday the 17th sees the wind pick up from the North, putting a damper on things. The swell is a solid 8ft, but it’s onshore and choppy. Monday is a write-off.
We’ve got a bit of a lull coming up from the 19th to the 21st. Swell drops, and the winds are all over the place. Don't get too excited about that period.
But then the forecast gets interesting for the end of next week. Around Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, we see a big pulse of long-period, strong energy. The swell jumps to around 10ft on the 23rd, and the wind is a cross-off from the Southeast at 12-16 mph. That’s a big, powerful swell. At 10ft, this is squarely in expert territory, and with a period of 15 seconds, it’s going to be a proper groundswell. The energy is strong, registering at 3406. This is one for the experienced crew, no doubt. It’s promising, but it’s also a week away, so we’ll keep an eye on it.
For the rest of the window into the 26th, we see conditions settling down and the swell backing off. Some cleaner, fun-sized waves might appear, but nothing else is jumping out as a must-surf session.
So, to sum it up: Wednesday afternoon, Friday afternoon, and Sunday are your standouts. The big swell around the 23rd is for experts only.
Alright, that’s the picture from here. Stay stoked, and I’ll see you in the water.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Mon night, light winds from the NNW by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu night, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 21 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3337 | 919 | 516 | 2150 | 2344 | 2375 | 2093 | 3782 | 2731 | 1997 | 1622 | 1517 | 1353 | 1461 | 1306 | 1144 | 1259 | 1564 | 2515 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross | on | glassy | off | glassy |
High Tide | 2:00AM1.45m | 2:32PM1.51m | 2:47AM1.53m | 3:14PM1.62m | 3:29AM1.56m | 3:53PM1.68m | 4:09AM1.56m | 4:29PM1.69m | 4:46AM1.51m | 5:05PM1.64m | 5:21AM1.43m | 5:39PM1.55m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:20AM0.10m | 8:44PM0.13m | 9:02AM0.02m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:40AM-0.01m | 10:08PM0.02m | 10:16AM-0.00m | 10:46PM0.04m | 10:51AM0.05m | 11:22PM0.10m | 11:24AM0.14m | 11:56PM0.19m | |||||||
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
6:12 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 3 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
66 | 919 | 483 | 2150 | 2344 | 2375 | 1892 | 3782 | 2731 | 1997 | 1622 | 1517 | 1353 | 1461 | 1306 | 1144 | 1259 | 1564 | 2515 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 24 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 21 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | SE 12 | SE 12 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | W 18 | WSW 18 |
91 | 20 | 455 | 211 | 108 | 64 | 2093 | 191 | 137 | 68 | 85 | 67 | 21 | 54 | 38 | 32 | 19 | 57 | 61 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 26 | WSW 10 | — | — | S 10 | S 11 | — | NNW 6 | SE 12 | — | — | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | ESE 12 |
— | 27 | 40 | — | — | 17 | 9 | — | 13 | 23 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SE 11 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | — |
3337 | 477 | 516 | 468 | 328 | 199 | 294 | — | 92 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











