Noordhoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about the surf coming up for Noordhoek. This is a reef setup, very consistent, and it’s fairly exposed to the swell. The best direction for it is a solid SW.

Looking at the whole 16-day window, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag. The first few days are pretty average, but the second week is where things get interesting. There’s a real standout on the horizon.

Starting off, Saturday 11 July is a write-off. There’s 10 ft of SSW swell, but it’s a cross-on breeze and the conditions are just marginal. The wave energy is pretty strong (2595), but the wind is messing it up. Sunday the 12th is even worse with strong onshore winds and poor conditions, so don’t bother.

Monday 13 July is a bit of a tease. The swell drops to 4 ft from the SSW, but it’s clean with a light NNE wind. The wave energy is only moderate (311), so it’s small and clean but not much push. Still, if you’re desperate, it’s the best of a bad bunch early on. Tuesday 14 July is tiny, with 2 ft swell and glassy conditions, but it’s just too small to get excited about.

Now, Wednesday 15 July is where things start to wake up. The swell picks up to 7 ft from the SW, and it’s clean with a light offshore. The wave energy is moderate (597). It’s a bit of a mushy period (8 seconds), so it’s not the best shape, but it’s rideable. The afternoon sees 10 ft, but it’s raw and lumpy with a moderate breeze.

Thursday 16 July has a proper 10 ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period. That’s a long period, meaning it’ll have some real punch on the reef. The wind is a fresh offshore, keeping it clean. The wave energy is strong (3305). This is a solid day for experienced surfers at Noordhoek. The crowds are sometimes a problem here, so keep that in mind. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Friday 17 July is a big one. 12 ft of SW swell, but the wind swings onshore and cross-shore, making it a messy, lumpy mess. The wave energy is very strong (over 3500), but the conditions are poor. Not for the faint-hearted.

The weekend of the 18th and 19th is mostly blown out with strong winds, but Sunday 19 July afternoon is a little gem. The swell drops to 6 ft from the SSE, and it goes completely glassy. The wave energy is moderate (1251), and the conditions are clean. This is a good window for a surf.

The middle of the next week is a bit quiet, but then Wednesday 22 July morning looks promising. A clean 6 ft SSW swell with a 14-second period and a light offshore wind. The wave energy is moderate (1410). This is a good, clean, intermediate-friendly swell.

And then… Thursday 23 July. This is a standout. 10 ft of SSW groundswell with a 16-second period. The wind is a light offshore, and it’s clean. The wave energy is massive (4842). This is for experienced surfers only. The reef will be working hard.

But the real story is Friday 24 July. The morning has a 8 ft SSW swell with an *incredible* 23-second period. That’s about as long as it gets. The wind is offshore and it’s clean glass. The wave energy is off the charts (7075). This is an exceptional, expert-level session. The afternoon sees 13 ft of SW swell, still big and powerful but with a moderate cross-off breeze. This is the best day on offer.

Saturday 25 July still has a 10 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, but the morning has a light cross-shore wind. The wave energy is still very strong (4879). It’s a solid day, but the wind is not as perfect as Friday.

Sunday 26 July has 12 ft of SW swell, but the wind is light cross-shore. It’s still a big, powerful swell, but it’s not the standout.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Friday 24 July. The morning is exceptional for experts, with that massive, clean, long-period groundswell. The afternoon is also huge. The second best is Thursday 23 July, with a big, clean groundswell. If you’re an experienced surfer, mark those days. The rest of the time is a mix of small, messy, or blown out.

Rusty.

Read more