Noordhoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for us.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but don’t write it off just yet. The first real chance to get the board wet kicks off on Thursday afternoon, the 16th of July, at Noordhoek. It’s a reef setup, very consistent, and it’s exposed to the SW swell. The water is sitting at 63.1°, which is a solid 3.8° colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a thicker wetsuit. That first session is a bit of a wrestle though – 8.2ft of SW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is a cross-off at 9 mph, keeping it clean. The combined energy is strong (2504), but the conditions are a bit marginal. It’s a goer if you’re keen, but not the pick.

Friday the 17th starts with a bigger 9.8ft SW swell (12 seconds) and a stronger cross-off breeze, but the quality is still just marginal. The afternoon gets a bit messier with a cross-shore wind. Saturday morning, the 18th, the swell drops to 4.9ft (10 seconds) with a light cross-off breeze, and the wave energy is moderate (714). It’s clean, but nothing to get too excited about.

Now, Sunday morning, the 19th of July, is a real treat. The wind goes glassy, the swell is 3.0ft from the SW with a 12-second period, and the energy is low (639). It’s small but glassy perfection – a morning for the longboard or a fun mid-length.

The first real standout is Monday morning, the 20th of July. The swell jumps back to 9.8ft (11 seconds) from the SW, with a gentle cross-off breeze. The energy is strong (2403), and the conditions are clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The size is over 8.2ft, so it’s expert territory, but for those guys, it’s going to be firing.

We hit a bit of a lull through Tuesday, with some longer period groundswell (15 seconds) but the wind is a bit off. We get a very clean window on Wednesday morning, the 22nd of July, but the swell is a massive 18.0ft (12 seconds) – that’s way too big (14867 energy). The file says it’s too big for this break, so that’s a no-go for paddle surfing. That kind of energy is more for the kites.

The next true standout is Friday morning, the 24th of July. We get an 8.2ft SSW groundswell with a very long 16-second period and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is very strong (5708). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The long period will be perfect for the reef, but it might make the take-off a bit more critical. Glassy conditions on Saturday morning, the 25th of July, with a 13.1ft SSW swell with a 19-second period – that’s a massive, long-period wave. The energy is enormous (17193). It’s a marginal forecast, but for the top-tier crew, it’s a serious session.

The run continues. Sunday the 26th of July has an 11.5ft SSW swell (15 seconds) with a clean cross-off breeze – exceptional for experts. Monday the 27th is excellent for experienced surfers. Then we get a beautiful glassy morning on Tuesday, the 28th of July, with a 6.2ft SW swell (15 seconds). It’s excellent for experienced surfers, clean and with that lovely long period.

The absolute pick of the whole 16-day window, without a doubt, is Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. You’ve got an 11.5ft SSW swell with a 19-second period, offshore wind from the NW at 6 mph, and the energy is massive (8189). It’s exceptional for expert surfers. The afternoon is just as good, with glassy conditions and an 11.5ft swell (18 seconds) and even higher energy (9082). If you can get in the water on that Wednesday, you’ll be talking about it for weeks.

It tails off a bit after that, with a few more clean windows on the 30th and 31st, but nothing beats that Wednesday.

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