Surf Forecasts:
Nine Mile Reef surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, SSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,070 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nine Mile Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Rusty here again. Let's break this down in feet.
This stretch at Nine Mile Reef is a bit of a mixed bag. The water is a touch cooler than normal, sitting at about 58°F.
We start Sunday the 30th of August, but the wind is from the wrong direction, a cross-on shore breeze blowing across waves around 5ft from the SW. It's choppy and not worth the paddle. Monday the 31st is more of the same, with a 4ft onshore windswell.
Tuesday the 1st of September brings a change. The swell pumps up to 7ft from the SSW with a solid 13-second period – that's real groundswell energy. The combined energy is reading (1567), which is moderate. The morning is glassy, but by the afternoon the wind picks up. It's a big swell for a reef, so it'll be working, but with the wind it's a gamble. Wednesday the 2nd has similar 6ft waves from the SW, but again the onshore wind is on it.
The standout is Thursday the 3rd of September. This is a major event. We're looking at a massive 18ft SSW swell with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is enormous at (7333). The kicker is a strong 30 km/h cross-offshore wind from the NE in the morning, which is going to blow it clean. This is strictly for experts. At over 8ft, it's way too big for anyone but the most experienced. If you're one of them, the Thursday morning session is your only shot before the wind turns bad in the afternoon.
The swell falls off fast after that. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are blown out with strong cross-onshore wind, making for lumpy, poor conditions.
We then hit a long, flat patch. Sunday the 6th of September is glassy but only has a 4ft long-period swell that's barely showing. From the 7th to the 9th, waves are well under 3ft with very low energy. It's a quiet period for the reef.
A late-week possibility: Thursday the 10th of September shows a clean morning with a 5ft SSE swell, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so not much power. The real sleeper might be Monday the 14th of September. We have a 3ft SSW swell, a good 12-second period, and a solid *offshore* wind from the N. It's small, but clean and offshore, so for a log or a fish, it could be a fun, clean session.
To put a point on it: the big dogs hit Nine Mile Reef on Thursday the 3rd of September. For everyone else, the clean but small Monday the 14th is your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | S 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 730 | 561 | 389 | 380 | 354 | 671 | 1291 | 1567 | 2187 | 1319 | 1235 | 723 | 7333 | 6558 | 2363 | 1026 | 645 | 200 | 122 | 221 | 891 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:31PM1.65m | 4:47AM1.49m | 5:03PM1.61m | 5:22AM1.43m | 5:37PM1.54m | 6:00AM1.33m | 6:18PM1.43m | 6:47AM1.21m | 7:09PM1.29m | 7:54AM1.09m | 8:29PM1.16m | 9:45AM1.04m | 10:28PM1.13m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:18AM0.07m | 10:45PM0.08m | 10:48AM0.11m | 11:18PM0.12m | 11:21AM0.18m | 11:55PM0.19m | 11:59AM0.28m | 00:38AM0.30m | 12:45PM0.40m | 1:37AM0.43m | 1:54PM0.54m | 3:13AM0.52m | 3:57PM0.60m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | — | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | S 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 730 | 561 | 389 | 380 | 354 | 671 | 1291 | 1567 | 2187 | 1319 | 1235 | 723 | — | 824 | 368 | 65 | 150 | 138 | 122 | 68 | 891 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | SSW 9 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 9 |
| kJ | 11 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 268 | 326 | 140 | 82 | 221 | 66 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 12 | — | SSW 13 | S 13 | SW 10 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 77 | — | 34 | 13 | 49 | 26 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 4 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | — | NW 3 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 6 |
| kJ | — | 24 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 11 | 7333 | 6558 | 2363 | 1026 | 645 | 200 | 38 | 95 | 77 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 34 | 318 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 27 | 0 | 19 | 398 | 641 | 980 | 1214 | 22 | 31 | 36 | 12 |
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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