Surf Forecasts:
Monwabisi Strand surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, SSW swell with 7,207 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Monwabisi Strand this week:
The surf forecast for Monwabisi Strand over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Monwabisi Strand in the next 16 days are 3.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Monwabisi Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, checking in with the outlook for our local stretch of coast.
We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The water's sitting about average for this time of year, so no need to worry about a sudden chill or a warm spell. The first standout is a beauty of a window early on, but we’ll have to wade through some pretty rough stuff to get to another good one later.
The first real highlight is Friday morning, August 28th, at Monwabisi Strand. It’s glassy, with a light offshore breeze, and we’ve got a clean 3ft swell rolling in from the south with an 11-second period. The combined energy is moderate (299), so there’s some push to it. This is a beginner-friendly spot, and with these conditions, it’s a perfect, mellow session. The afternoon goes a bit average as the wind swings onshore, but that morning is the pick of the first few days.
Saturday and Sunday are write-offs, with onshore winds and building southwesterly swell making for messy, choppy conditions. Monday morning, August 31st, offers a clean-up with a light cross-offshore breeze and a 4ft southwesterly swell (11 seconds), which is a nice little window of opportunity.
Then, we get a serious spike. Tuesday morning, September 1st, is a ripper. The swell is up to 6ft from the south-southwest with a 13-second period, and it’s clean with a cross-offshore breeze. The energy is strong (961), and the conditions are set for a great session. This is the best of the week for the more experienced surfer who can handle that size.
After that, it gets ugly. Wednesday, September 2nd, sees a massive 12ft swell from the south-southwest (17-second period) with a howling onshore wind. The energy is extreme (7819), but it’s pure chaos. This is a big, dangerous, onshore mess – only for the hardcore. The following days are dominated by a series of strong wind events, with a proper storm system piling in from the southeast. For a couple of days there, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, with strong winds and a messy, lumpy sea state.
But after the storm passes, we get a great reward. Saturday morning, September 5th, is a standout. The wind has swung offshore, the swell is a solid 6ft from the south with a 10-second period, and the energy is high (1290). The conditions are clean and the forecast is excellent for experienced surfers. Saturday afternoon turns glassy, with a 6ft southerly swell, which is a fantastic way to end the day.
The following week looks a lot quieter. Sunday, September 6th, has a small, clean southwesterly groundswell that’s worth a look for a longboard or a small-wave board, but overall, the energy drops off and the wind becomes less favourable for the rest of the period. There’s really nothing else to get excited about after that Saturday.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | S 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
229 | 175 | 136 | 215 | 164 | 286 | 736 | 457 | 349 | 288 | 263 | 334 | 1176 | 932 | 1590 | 5046 | 3410 | 1748 | 835 | 330 | 471 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:33PM1.61m | 3:44AM1.52m | 4:01PM1.65m | 4:15AM1.52m | 4:31PM1.65m | 4:47AM1.49m | 5:02PM1.62m | 5:21AM1.43m | 5:37PM1.54m | 6:00AM1.33m | 6:17PM1.43m | 6:46AM1.21m | 7:09PM1.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:22AM0.09m | 9:44PM0.11m | 9:49AM0.06m | 10:14PM0.07m | 10:18AM0.07m | 10:44PM0.08m | 10:48AM0.11m | 11:18PM0.12m | 11:21AM0.18m | 11:54PM0.19m | 11:58AM0.28m | 00:38AM0.30m | 12:45PM0.40m | 1:37AM0.43m | |||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SW 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
229 | 175 | 102 | 215 | 141 | 286 | 736 | 457 | 349 | 288 | 263 | 334 | 1176 | 932 | 1590 | 5046 | 3410 | 1748 | 835 | 330 | 361 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 11 | SW 14 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | — | S 10 | SSW 13 | — | — | SSW 20 | — | — | — | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
47 | 155 | 136 | 116 | 164 | 38 | 29 | 20 | 4 | — | 2 | 195 | — | — | 799 | — | — | — | 430 | 114 | 100 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | SSE 14 | S 13 | SSE 13 | S 11 | SSE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 |
23 | 62 | 84 | 68 | 61 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 9 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | S 7 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 |
— | — | — | — | 7 | 252 | 21 | 59 | 63 | 51 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 65 | 263 | 471 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 243 | 43 | 29 | 306 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 29 | 202 | 368 | 172 | 226 | 1061 | 1159 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Monwabisi Strand Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Monwabisi Strand provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Monwabisi Strand can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Monwabisi Strand 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 (Monwabisi Strand) 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 Monwabisi Strand 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.
Monwabisi Strand is 17 km (11 miles) from the city of Stellenbosch. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











