Surf Forecasts:
Nine Mile Reef surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 17s period, SSW swell with 1,714 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Nine Mile Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Nine Mile Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nine Mile Reef in the next 16 days are 1.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nine Mile Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Nine Mile Reef. The big story here is a long stretch of average-to-poor conditions before a solid pulse shows up way down the line. This spot, a beginner-friendly reef that’s fairly consistent, likes a swell from the SSE—so it needs the right alignment to really fire.
The water temp? Not a word on it in the data, so let’s just say it’s doing its thing for the time of year.
First up, we’ve got a long wait. From Saturday September 12th all the way through Monday September 21st, it’s a real struggle. Winds are cross-on or onshore for most of it, with the odd bit of clean offshore on Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th, but the swell is tiny—mostly 2ft to 4ft—and the wave energy is weak (236 down to 126). Not worth paddling out. That’s a ten-day lull where the setup looks more interesting for a kite than a surfboard.
Then things get interesting on Wednesday September 23rd. We’ve got a proper pulse—10ft of SW swell with an 11 second period and moderate offshore NNW wind. The wave energy is pumping (3179). But here’s the catch: it’s predicted to be too big for this break, especially for a beginner spot. The same goes for Wednesday afternoon (8ft, 14 secs, energy 2466) and Thursday morning (7ft, 12 secs, energy 1344). The winds are offshore, the surf is clean, but the size is only for the experts. Not the place for a learner.
We slide into Thursday afternoon with 6ft, but the wind swings cross-shore and messy—rain showers and strong cross-chop kill it.
The rest of the week into the following weekend is a write-off with onshore wind, rain, and small slop until…
Sunday September 27th morning. This is the standout. Late in the forecast window, glassy conditions (0 mph wind), 3ft of SSE swell at 13 seconds with moderate wave energy (510). The description says “expect very good surf conditions.” For Nine Mile Reef, with its optimum swell direction from SSE and glassy wind, this is the one to pencil in. It’ll be clean and lined up, even if the size is small. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
Conditions: tiny and blown out for a long stretch, then a big pulse that’s too much, then a glassy window at the end.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | SW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 19 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 269 | 805 | 1714 | 1147 | 691 | 493 | 295 | 190 | 142 | 103 | 90 | 669 | 1526 | 1196 | 673 | 909 | 514 | 349 | 578 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:44AM1.57m | 3:58PM1.70m | 4:16AM1.53m | 4:29PM1.64m | 4:47AM1.46m | 4:59PM1.54m | 5:17AM1.37m | 5:28PM1.42m | 5:48AM1.26m | 5:59PM1.28m | 6:21AM1.14m | 6:33PM1.14m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:43PM-0.01m | 9:48AM0.03m | 10:15PM0.02m | 10:19AM0.08m | 10:45PM0.08m | 10:48AM0.16m | 11:14PM0.17m | 11:17AM0.27m | 11:43PM0.29m | 11:46AM0.39m | 00:13AM0.41m | 12:17PM0.51m | 00:51AM0.54m | ||||||
 |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | |  | |  |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 6:32 | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 23 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 153 | 805 | 1714 | 1147 | 691 | 493 | 295 | 190 | 142 | 103 | 90 | 669 | 1526 | 1196 | 673 | 909 | 514 | 349 | 578 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | — | S 9 | — | — | — | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 13 | SW 19 | WSW 8 | ESE 13 | SW 13 | W 13 | WSW 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 |
| kJ | 85 | — | 25 | — | — | — | 91 | 30 | 13 | 7 | 89 | 33 | 16 | 637 | 919 | 659 | 418 | 224 | 64 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 13 | SE 13 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 7 | 12 | 55 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | — | NW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | — | S 7 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 269 | 195 | 321 | 218 | 192 | 233 | — | 40 | 89 | 21 | 82 | 111 | 9 | — | 196 | 82 | 21 | 125 | 55 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 31 | 318 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 0 | 151 | 378 | 43 | 206 | 206 | 12 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 21 | 380 | 16 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Nine Mile Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Nine Mile Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Nine Mile Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Nine Mile Reef 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 (Nine Mile Reef) 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 Nine Mile Reef 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.
Nine Mile Reef is 19 km (12 miles) from the very large city of Bellville. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Bellville. Bellville has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.
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