Surf Forecasts:
Nine Mile Reef surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 15s period, SW swell with 1,760 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s 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 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nine Mile Reef in the next 16 days are 2.1m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 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) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nine Mile Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this out there. I’m looking at the next couple of weeks, and I’ll be straight with you: it’s going to be a grind for a while. We’ve got a lot of onshore wind and messy conditions stacking up against us.
The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. Nothing crazy there.
We’re looking at a stretch of poor surf to start. From Wednesday afternoon right through the weekend, it’s mostly onshore and cross-onshore winds, with waves in the 2ft to 7ft range. There’s plenty of energy moving through, but it’s all over the place. The combined energy for that early period is weak to moderate, hitting values like 126 and 943, but the quality just isn't there. It’s going to be lumpy and choppy. Sunday morning does show a brief pocket of glassy conditions with a 8ft SSW swell, but that’s pushing too much size for this reef. It’s a beginner break, so that’s not what we want. We’re looking at a dead stretch until the middle of the following week.
Now, for the real deal. The standout window is around the 20th and 21st of September. Sunday the 20th is the pick. We’ve got a proper lull in the wind, with light offshore and glassy conditions. The swell is a clean 4ft from the SW, with a period of 13 seconds. That’s got some real push to it. The combined energy is moderate at 613. It’s not a monster day, but it will be clean, and that’s what we’ve been starved for. This will be a great day for the beginners and anyone who wants a fun, easy wave. Nine Mile Reef should have some nice lines wrapping in on the lower tide.
The following morning, Monday the 21st, is also worth a look. We’ve got a 4ft SSW swell with a 15-second period, and it’s cross-offshore and clean. More of that nice, lined-up swell. The energy is moderate at 1229. It’s a touch smaller, but the conditions should be great. After that, things get a bit smaller and the winds start turning onshore again later in the week.
So, yeah. If you can wait it out, the 20th and 21st are your days. Everything before is pretty much a write-off. After that, it’s a bit of a fade-out.
Stay patient.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, strong winds from the NNW by Mon afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 106 | 214 | 940 | 647 | 418 | 277 | 408 | 306 | 760 | 1734 | 1102 | 822 | 493 | 295 | 154 | 142 | 91 | 293 | 633 | 1500 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 2:16PM1.58m | 2:33AM1.53m | 2:52PM1.67m | 3:10AM1.57m | 3:26PM1.71m | 3:44AM1.57m | 3:58PM1.70m | 4:16AM1.53m | 4:29PM1.64m | 4:47AM1.46m | 4:59PM1.54m | 5:17AM1.37m | 5:28PM1.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:32PM0.09m | 8:42AM0.05m | 9:09PM0.02m | 9:16AM0.02m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 20 |
Temp °C | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 7 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 17 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 106 | 214 | 940 | 647 | 418 | 108 | 193 | 140 | 760 | 1734 | 1102 | 228 | 493 | 295 | 154 | 142 | 91 | 103 | 633 | 1500 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSW 17 | SE 9 | — | SSW 6 | SW 12 | — | WSW 12 | SSW 20 | — | — | SSW 14 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | WNW 9 | SW 19 | SE 13 | S 9 |
| kJ | 5 | 193 | 3 | — | 107 | 277 | — | 90 | 77 | — | — | 635 | 159 | 94 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 293 | 7 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 10 | — | — | — | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | 12 | 24 | 36 | 25 | 26 | 7 | 7 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | — | SSE 3 | S 6 | SE 4 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | — | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | — |
| kJ | 6 | 7 | — | 3 | 109 | 39 | 408 | 306 | 532 | 808 | 432 | 822 | 356 | — | 22 | 68 | 17 | 64 | 119 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 16 | 21 | 32 | 36 | 22 | 380 | 22 | 21 | 36 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 43 | 206 | 52 | 206 | 206 | 21 |
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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