Surf Forecasts:
Nine Mile Reef surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, SSW swell with 1,189 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s period with SW 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nine Mile Reef in the next 16 days are 1.9m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nine Mile Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, folks, Rusty here with the long-range look at Nine Mile Reef. This reef setup is exposed to the swell and its optimum direction is SSE, so we’re watching the southern quadrant for activity. The water at the moment is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at about 57°.
We’ve got a few days of waiting before anything really gets going. The first real chance to paddle out arrives Saturday morning the 16th of August. A clean 3ft swell from the SW with a solid 15-second period and a moderate offshore breeze from the N means the lineup should have some decent shape. The combined energy is moderate (433), making this a nice reintroduction after the lull. The standout session of this whole period, however, looks like Wednesday the 26th of August. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period, giving it real punch (combined energy of 1693). A moderate offshore wind from the NNW will keep it clean, but this is big enough to be for experienced surfers only. The reef will hold that long-period groundswell well, but the tide will need to be right. The sets will be a bit straighter at the peak, so pick your line. Sunday afternoon the 22nd of August is also a beauty: 5ft SSW swell, 13 seconds, and clean with a cross-off breeze from the NW (energy 660). Crowds are a possibility here at times, so get on it early.
Monday the 18th and Sunday the 23rd of August are write-offs with poor conditions and onshore winds. The very end of the month, around the 29th and 30th, looks like smaller, cleaner surf (around 4ft, glassy or light cross-on), but nothing to get super excited about. The big one is the 26th.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°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 Tue night). 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 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 268 | 326 | 418 | 429 | 551 | 1049 | 721 | 509 | 628 | 736 | 981 | 892 | 746 | 587 | 605 | 669 | 1093 | 759 | 536 | 459 | 642 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 5:04PM1.66m | 5:21AM1.44m | 5:38PM1.57m | 5:55AM1.34m | 6:12PM1.44m | 6:30AM1.23m | 6:46PM1.31m | 7:09AM1.11m | 7:27PM1.17m | 8:02AM1.00m | 8:28PM1.05m | 9:44AM0.92m | 10:23PM0.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:51AM0.05m | 11:22PM0.10m | 11:24AM0.14m | 11:56PM0.20m | 11:56AM0.25m | 00:30AM0.31m | 12:28PM0.38m | 1:07AM0.43m | 1:04PM0.51m | 1:53AM0.55m | 1:53PM0.63m | 3:15AM0.64m | 3:47PM0.72m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 268 | 326 | 418 | 429 | 551 | 1049 | 721 | 509 | 628 | 736 | 981 | 892 | 746 | 587 | 605 | 669 | 1093 | 759 | 536 | 459 | 642 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 7 | ESE 10 | SE 4 | SE 10 | — | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | SSW 15 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 16 | 9 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 125 | 110 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | SE 6 | — |
| kJ | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 16 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SSE 4 | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 18 | 21 | 25 | — | 2 | 21 | 42 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 380 | 12 | 0 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
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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