
Surf Forecasts:
Long Beach surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s period, SW swell with 2,745 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period with WSW 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 (Sep 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 10s. 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 2.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Long Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the Long Beach area.
Straight up, this is a run for the experienced crew only. The first real window of quality surf kicks off on Wednesday, September 2nd, with a solid 10ft SW groundswell. The period is a meaty 13 seconds, which means proper lines and plenty of energy – the combined swell energy is a massive 2723 (that’s strong to very strong). The water is sitting at 58°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent suit. The wind is a gentle offshore from the south, making Long Beach (sandbar) clean as a whistle. This is the standout session of the whole forecast. It’s excellent surf for experienced surfers, but that 10ft is pushing into expert territory for most. It’s not a beginner wave.
After that, things get messy. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are a write-off with near gale to gale force winds tearing up the surface. The swell is there, but the quality is zero. Saturday the 5th is more of the same – strong winds, poor conditions.
Sunday the 6th brings a bit of hope. The morning session is a bit of a gamble with a 7ft SW swell but a very long 18-second period. That long period at a sandbar can make things a little too straight, but the afternoon looks much cleaner. By Sunday afternoon, the wind goes light and cross-offshore, and there’s a 6ft SW groundswell (16-second period) with moderate wave energy (2076). That’s a solid session for experienced surfers again, and the clean conditions are a major positive.
Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are poor again with onshore winds and choppy conditions. The swell drops right off. There’s a gap of a few days with no real recommendations.
The surf tries to pick up again around Friday, September 11th. The afternoon session shows a 4ft WSW swell with clean conditions and light winds, giving some surfable waves. It’s not a standout, but a decent option for a paddle.
Saturday, September 12th, sees a new 10ft SE swell come through, but it’s short period (7-8 seconds) and cross-shore winds, making for a lumpy, choppy mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing day than a clean paddle session.
The next real glimmer of hope is on Sunday, September 13th, in the afternoon. The wind drops to a slight air, and there’s a 4ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period. The combined energy is 1096 (moderate), and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is your second-best window of the whole outlook, and it’s a week and a half away.
The final week is a mixed bag. The morning of Thursday, September 17th, looks clean with a gentle offshore wind and a 5ft SW swell. The energy is moderate (977), and it’s “expect good surf conditions.” The afternoon of the same day looks even better: a 5ft SW swell with the same gentle offshore, and a higher energy reading of 1332. This is a promising end to the run, but it’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it.
To sum it up: the best wave on offer is Wednesday afternoon, September 2nd, with that big, clean SW groundswell. Your second-best shot is the afternoon of Sunday, September 13th. Don’t bother with the rest unless you’re desperate.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Wed night, gales from the SE by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ESE on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
2723 | 1700 | 853 | 1795 | 2295 | 1599 | 1560 | 1545 | 1521 | 1648 | 1434 | 2745 | 1707 | 1343 | 1292 | 1162 | 353 | 259 | 181 | 261 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 6:18PM1.41m | 6:48AM1.20m | 7:10PM1.28m | 7:55AM1.08m | 8:30PM1.15m | 9:46AM1.03m | 10:28PM1.12m | 11:38AM1.11m | 00:04AM1.20m | 12:47PM1.27m | 1:06AM1.32m | 1:35PM1.43m | 1:53AM1.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM0.30m | 12:46PM0.40m | 1:38AM0.42m | 1:54PM0.53m | 3:14AM0.51m | 3:57PM0.59m | 5:14AM0.48m | 5:54PM0.50m | 6:32AM0.36m | 7:02PM0.35m | 7:23AM0.23m | 7:50PM0.20m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 14 |
2723 | 1700 | 853 | 426 | 311 | 140 | 93 | 65 | 67 | 88 | 1434 | 2745 | 1707 | 1343 | 1292 | 1162 | 353 | 259 | 119 | 261 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 10 | — | WNW 15 | — | — | S 14 | S 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSW 10 | — | S 12 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 |
— | 216 | — | 74 | — | — | 15 | 86 | 58 | 39 | 38 | — | 11 | 145 | 89 | 66 | 329 | 206 | 135 | 121 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 24 | SW 13 | — | — | S 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 57 | 26 | — | — | 5 | 39 | 33 | 27 | 129 | 181 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | — | — |
— | 327 | 304 | 1795 | 2295 | 1599 | 1560 | 1545 | 1521 | 1648 | 1341 | 650 | 358 | — | 48 | 27 | 12 | 8 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 946 | 1308 | 1470 | 3893 | 24 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 32 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 1 |
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.










