Noordhoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Well, I’ve gotta be straight with you – for a stretch here, Cape Town’s Noordhoek is looking like a bit of a battle. This is a reef setup that’s very consistent for swell, but the wind and conditions are going to be the real spoilers for a good chunk of the next two weeks. The water’s sitting at 64°, which is a touch colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent steamer.

The first few days are pretty much a write-off. From Sunday the 6th through Wednesday the 11th, the wind is a mess – mostly cross-onshore or howling cross-shore, with a near gale hitting on Monday afternoon. Even though there’s plenty of energy in the water, with combined swell energy hitting up to 8705 on Sunday afternoon and surf over 8 ft, it’s just blown out and lumpy. Not worth paddling out for. The only real tease comes on Tuesday morning the 8th when the wind drops glassy, but the swell’s only 4 ft from the SW with a 13-second period. It’s clean, but small. That window is tight before the wind swings back onshore.

Now, if you’re patient, there’s a standout hiding in here. Sunday the 13th morning is your best bet. We get a clean, cross-off wind from the west at just 3 mph, with a solid 6 ft groundswell from the SSW at 14 seconds. That long period will wrap nicely into the reef, meaning proper shape and longer lulls between sets. The combined energy is strong at 1408, and for an intermediate surfer, this is excellent. Don’t expect to have it to yourself though – crowds are possible here. It’s the clear winner of the outlook.

After that, we see a bit of a lull. Monday the 14th shoves a massive 13 ft swell at us, but it’s short period (11 seconds) and cross-off wind. That’s big – expert territory – and the quality is marginal. The rest of the second week is a mix of onshores, rain, and messy wind, with a brief cleaner window on Saturday the 19th morning with an 12 ft swell from the SE, but the wind’s cross-off and fresh at 19 mph, so it’s still a handful. By the 20th and 21st, the energy drops right off.

Honestly, for this 16-day window, unless you’re chasing the big, messy stuff, hold out for that Sunday the 13th morning. It’s the one true moment where everything lines up.

Rusty.

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