Surf Forecasts:
Nine Mile Reef surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, SSW swell with 2,477 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 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 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nine Mile Reef in the next 16 days are 2.4m 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nine Mile Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ over the next couple weeks.
Honestly, mate, this stretch is a tough one to get excited about. Nine Mile Reef is a reef setup that wants a clean SSE swell with offshore winds from the north to really shine, and we just aren’t seeing that combo line up. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off. From Thursday the 10th right through to Tuesday the 15th, the wind is either cross-on or onshore, and the surf quality is consistently rated as poor. The swell is there – you’ll see some moderate to strong energy, with combined energy readings from 545 up to 1812 on Saturday the 12th, and swell heights bumping to 7 ft on Friday the 11th – but it’s all wrapped in lumpy, choppy conditions. That 7 ft on Friday the 11th is coming in from the SSE with a short, punchy 7-second period, mixed with a 16 mph cross-on breeze, which is more of a mess than a session.
There is a glimmer, and it comes on Friday the 18th of September. The morning looks glassy – wind is a whisper at 3 mph from the north, which is offshore for this spot. You’ve got a clean 3 ft swell from the SW with an 11-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 471, but for a reef, that’s a nice, clean, workable wave. It won’t be huge, but the conditions will be primo. However, remember this is nine days out from now, so treat that Friday morning as promising but not locked in.
The other little bright spot is on Wednesday the 23rd of September. Another glassy morning with a north-easterly breeze, giving you clean conditions again. Swell is smaller at 3 ft from the SW with a 12-second period, combined energy of 383. It’s an easy, fun-sized wave.
The water temperature is 60°F, which is about spot on for the time of year with a tiny 0.2°F anomaly – nothing unusual there.
So, the standout call for the whole forecast: Friday the 18th of September, early. Glassy, clean, and that offshore puff will make Nine Mile Reef look its best. It won’t be big, but for a reef break, quality over quantity. Keep an eye on the 23rd as a solid backup.
Between the 19th and the 22nd, the onshores and cross-shore winds return with a vengeance, so don’t bother paddling out then. The very end of the run has some small, cleanish windows on the 25th, but the swell is dropping off.
That’s the call. Not a classic run, but there are a couple of dawnies to chase.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 20 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 647 | 418 | 277 | 418 | 175 | 740 | 1551 | 1117 | 672 | 418 | 295 | 152 | 142 | 90 | 306 | 1199 | 2374 | 1094 | 1021 | 949 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 5:48AM1.26m | 5:59PM1.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:46AM0.39m | 00:13AM0.41m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 6:32 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 20 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 20 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 647 | 418 | 277 | 193 | 153 | 740 | 1551 | 1117 | 672 | 418 | 295 | 152 | 142 | 90 | 306 | 1199 | 2374 | 1094 | 1021 | 949 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SW 12 | SE 12 | — | — | S 22 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | 20 | 42 | 6 | 110 | 37 | — | — | 9 | 512 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 12 | SE 13 | — | — | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | W 13 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 26 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 222 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 4 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | NNW 3 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | — | SSW 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 4 |
| kJ | — | 14 | 268 | 418 | 175 | 269 | 261 | 194 | 120 | 163 | 1 | 19 | 45 | 26 | 33 | 65 | — | 380 | 86 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 22 | 31 | 980 | 26 | 16 | 27 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 60 | 151 | 151 | 160 | 206 | 21 | 1257 | 21 | 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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