Surf Forecasts:
Magna Tubes surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,365 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Magna Tubes this week:
The surf forecast for Magna Tubes over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Magna Tubes in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magna Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's coming up for Magna Tubes.
This is a reef break set up for advanced crew only. We’ve got a decent run of swell on the cards, but the quality varies a fair bit. The water is sitting at 53°, which is a whopping 13° colder than the long-term average for this time of year. That’s seriously unusual, so you’ll be wanting a good 5/4 and boots.
We start off quiet. Saturday the 15th is a write-off – the swell is a weak 4ft from the SW with an onshore breeze, giving us combined wave energy of just 597. Forget it. That afternoon isn’t any better. Sunday the 16th is where we first see a pulse of life. The morning brings clean conditions with a light offshore wind from the WNW, and a 5ft SW swell (902 energy). The period is short at 13 seconds, so it’ll be a bit more disorganised, but it’s rideable. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze.
Monday the 17th is a standout. The morning delivers excellent surf for experienced surfers with a solid 8ft SW swell and a moderate 2220 energy. The wind is a light cross-off, keeping it clean. That afternoon, the swell pushes 8ft SW (2160 energy) – still clean. This is proper, chunky reef surf.
Tuesday the 18th through to Wednesday the 19th sees the swell hold size around 7ft to 8ft, but the wind turns cross-onshore and the conditions get marginal. The energy is strong, over 1500, but it’s not going to be as pretty. Thursday the 20th afternoon shapes up nicely again, with a 8ft SW swell and a cross-off breeze (2047 energy) – excellent conditions for the experienced.
Friday the 21st is a mess. Onshore winds and choppy conditions ruin it. Saturday the 22nd is cleaner but the swell drops to 7ft with a fresh breeze. Not a highlight.
Now, the second week gets interesting but comes with a caveat about the long-range call. Sunday the 23rd morning has a solid 10ft SSW swell (2795 energy) with clean cross-off winds, but it's big – experts only. Monday the 24th morning is the biggest of the whole period: an 12ft SSW groundswell with a very long 16-second period, and the energy is immense at 5954. The wind is cross-onshore though, so it'll be a lumpy beast. The swell direction from the SSW isn't quite the optimum SE direction for Magna Tubes, which might make it a bit less focused. Tuesday the 25th drops back to 6ft but is clean with onshore wind – not ideal.
The real hidden gem in this long-range forecast is Wednesday the 26th morning. Completely glassy, zero wind, a 5ft SSW swell with an incredibly long 18-second period, and a massive 2530 energy. This is a pulse of very long-period groundswell. At a reef break like this, that long period will produce some beautifully shaped, powerful, and clean lines. It’s a rare treat. That afternoon the wind comes up again, so morning is the call.
The rest of the week fades out with windy, marginal conditions, though the 29th and 30th have clean cross-off winds and 7ft to 8ft swell, which is okay but not the best of the bunch.
If you’re an experienced surfer, your best bets are Monday the 17th for the reliable clean, powerful swell, and that glassy Wednesday the 26th morning for something truly special – but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecasts closer to the time. Crowds are “sometimes” expected here, so you might have some company on those good days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | E 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
465 | 465 | 509 | 769 | 718 | 821 | 1886 | 1975 | 143 | 1452 | 2082 | 2702 | 2254 | 1897 | 1565 | 1693 | 2034 | 3365 | 2242 | 1626 | 1513 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | off |
High Tide | 5:28PM1.77m | 5:38AM1.56m | 5:59PM1.67m | 6:09AM1.45m | 6:29PM1.54m | 6:39AM1.33m | 6:59PM1.39m | 7:09AM1.19m | 7:31PM1.24m | 7:46AM1.06m | 8:17PM1.09m | 9:08AM0.94m | 10:35PM1.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:11AM-0.00m | 11:39PM0.11m | 11:41AM0.08m | 00:10AM0.20m | 12:11PM0.20m | 00:40AM0.32m | 12:39PM0.33m | 1:12AM0.45m | 1:09PM0.48m | 1:49AM0.58m | 1:47PM0.62m | 2:53AM0.70m | 3:08PM0.75m | ||||||||
7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 23 | 28 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 15 |
465 | 465 | 509 | 769 | 718 | 821 | 1886 | 1975 | 1599 | 1452 | 2082 | 2702 | 2254 | 1897 | 1565 | 1693 | 2034 | 3365 | 2242 | 1626 | 627 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | E 10 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | SSW 16 | E 8 |
165 | 54 | 116 | 58 | 93 | 167 | 220 | 185 | 143 | 98 | 69 | 46 | 44 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 13 | 12 | — | 441 | 133 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | S 12 | S 11 | E 10 | E 11 | WSW 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
132 | 3 | 2 | 75 | 57 | 203 | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | E 4 | NW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 12 | — | — | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | E 6 | SW 12 |
— | 136 | 26 | 4 | 15 | 405 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 198 | 1513 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 51 | 1 | 141 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 173 | 141 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Magna Tubes Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Magna Tubes provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Magna Tubes can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Magna Tubes 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 (Magna Tubes) 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 Magna Tubes 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.
Magna Tubes is 19 km (12 miles) from the city of Kruisfontein. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Kruisfontein. Kruisfontein has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











