Long Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.13° S 18.33° E

Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Long Beach sea temperature is
13.7° C
1.9° 

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 12 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), 17s period, SW swell with 3,738 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 1.1m and 8s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (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) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let’s get into the 16-day picture for Long Beach, a sandbar set-up that’s fairly consistent but takes a bit of reading before you get it right.

Right off the bat, Wednesday the 12th looks okay to test the water. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is nearly three and a half degrees colder than the norm for this time of year – yeah, that’s a bit of a shock to the system when you first get in. Expect a solid 6ft to 7ft of SW groundswell with a very long period of 17-18 seconds, packing a punch with wave energy reading 2681 (moderate to strong). Problem is, the wind is light but cross, so the surface isn’t going to be that clean. It’s a ‘have a look’ kinda day, not a standout.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are both blown out or messy. Thursday morning starts clean with light offshore NNE wind and 8ft SW swell (3747 energy), but the forecast flags marginal surf, so the sandbar might be shifting or the tide is off. By Friday, that 12 mph north wind kills the surface completely. Saturday the 15th is where we start to see a real window. Light offshore SSE wind on the morning session, 6ft swell from the WSW, period at 13 seconds, and the call is for very good conditions. The afternoon stays clean too. That morning session – that’s your standout for the first week. Clean, fun-sized, and consistent enough.

Sunday the 16th goes back to a northerly wind – onshore and bumpy. Skip it. Monday the 17th gets interesting though. We’ve got a stronger 8ft SW swell with 13-second period and moderate cross-off wind from the SSE. Combined energy hits 2477. That is solid power, but that’s getting up into the expert-friendly zone, especially on a sandbar. It won’t be a beginner wave. The afternoon holds at 8ft, clean lines. This is a good call for experienced crew.

Tuesday the 18th looks sweet again. Morning has light offshore SSE wind, 6ft WSW swell, and clean conditions. The energy drops to 1232, but the quality is high for the size. Tuesday afternoon holds with a gentle offshore from the south. That’s your second standout.

After a wind spike on Wednesday the 19th with strong SE gusts (28 mph) churning stuff up, we get a shift. Thursday the 20th sees a new, short-period SE swell at 6ft to 8ft, only 7 seconds. That’s a windswell – less power, which is reflected in the energy readings dropping to around 791-974. The wind is clean and offshore, so it might be fun on a longboard for the morning, but don’t expect heavy barrels. Friday the 21st drops right off – swell fades to 3ft to 4ft.

The second week is patchy. Saturday the 22nd has moderate 5ft SW swell but strong cross-off wind at 22 mph – that’s gusty and clean, but the energy is moderate. Not a standout. Sunday the 23rd looks the pick of the second week. Gentle ESE to SE cross-off wind, 6ft SW swell (13 secs), and the call is for very good conditions. That morning is worth your time.

The end of the run has one last spicy moment. Tuesday the 25th starts dead still – glassy, with a tiny 3ft SW groundswell but a massive 19-second period. That’s a weird one, and it won’t be powerful, but it might line up on a glassy bank. But check Tuesday afternoon: 6ft SW swell, 17 seconds, gentle offshore wind from the SSE, energy hits 1944, and conditions are called very good. That is the sleeper standout of the entire forecast. Don’t sleep on it.

Overall, the first week shapes up better than the second. Your two best bets are Saturday morning the 15th and Tuesday afternoon the 25th. Expect crowds on the better days though, this spot sees people often when it’s clean.

Stay stoked.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat night, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
2
2
1
0
1
3
3
3
2
0
1
3
3
3
3
3
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
SW
18
2
SW
17
1.5
SW
21
2.4
SW
17
2.2
WSW
16
2.1
WSW
16
1.9
WSW
15
1.8
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
13
1.9
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
2.1
WSW
15
3
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
13
2.3
WSW
13
2.2
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
12
1.8
WSW
12
1.3
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2344
2375
1892
3538
2535
2082
1475
1393
1373
1267
1384
1286
1380
1877
2732
2477
1872
1569
807
874
455
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
10
E
20
E
10
NNE
15
NNW
15
N
20
N
15
NW
5
E
10
SSE
10
SE
10
W
20
NNW
15
NW
15
SSE
25
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
10
SSE
15
S
20
SSE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
glassy
off
cross-off
cross
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
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
5:56AM1.33m
6:12PM1.43m
6:31AM1.21m
6:47PM1.29m
Low Tide
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
11:56AM0.25m
00:31AM0.30m
12:29PM0.38m
1:08AM0.42m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:14
6:14
6:15
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:17
 mm
Temp °C
15
20
21
21
23
21
15
16
15
15
17
18
15
16
16
15
15
15
14
15
14
Feels °C
12
17
15
17
21
17
10
13
15
13
15
17
12
13
16
11
11
12
13
13
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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