Noordhoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead for the Cape, with waves on offer from the get-go. The pattern is a mix of a really good run of clean, powerful swells, bookended by some messy, windy conditions that will test your patience. Don’t let the first week fool you; the real standout is locked in for the second weekend.

The first surf kicks off Monday morning, August 3rd, at Noordhoek. The water is sitting at 62.9°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. We’re looking at a 4.3ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period, and a light NNE cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (612), but the clean conditions with that cross-off wind are a joy. The sets will have some nice shape to them. It’s a good start, and crowds are possible.

Monday afternoon gets messy as the wind swings ENE and goes cross-on, putting a chop on the surface. That window is a write-off.

Tuesday morning, August 4th, is back on. The same 4.3ft SW swell, period down to 12 seconds, but light NNE cross-off winds keep it clean. This is a good, cruisy session. The afternoon sees the wind shift to NE and become cross-shore, making it a bit lumpy.

Wednesday morning, August 5th, the swell drops to 3.0ft from the SSW, but the period jumps to 15 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell. With a light N cross-off breeze, it’ll be clean but the waves might be a bit too straight for a beach break, though it’s a reef. The combined energy is moderate (596). The afternoon ramps up quick to a 5.6ft SSW swell (16 seconds) but the wind goes onshore from the SSE, making it a mess.

Thursday, August 6th, the swell pumps up to 9.8ft from the SW on the morning with a 14-second period. The combined energy is strong (3082). This is big, but the wind is a light cross-shore SW, so it’s not clean. By afternoon, the wind hits 16 mph from the SW, making it a cross-chop. This is big and rough, only for the well-experienced.

Friday, August 7th, the swell holds at 8.2ft from the SW with a 14-second period. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the SW in the morning, so it’s a bit bumpy. The afternoon looks okay with a light E cross-on, but it’s not clean.

Now, here’s the standout. Saturday morning, August 8th, at Noordhoek, the wind goes offshore from the NNW at 9 mph. The swell is still a solid 8.2ft from the SW, 14-second period, and the combined energy is strong (2468). The offshore breeze will make this clean and powerful. This is the best session of the first week. It’s big, so intermediate and above only. The afternoon gets hammered by a fresh 22 mph SW cross-off, which is a blowout.

Sunday, August 9th, is a total loss. Rain and strong onshore winds from the S, blowing the 9.8ft+ swell into a lumpy mess. This continues through Monday and Tuesday, August 10th and 11th. The wind stays onshore or cross-shore and strong, with the swell fluctuating between 5.6ft and 8.2ft, but the quality is poor. There’s a gap of poor conditions here.

Wednesday morning, August 12th, we get a reprieve. The swell drops to 3.9ft from the SSW, but with a clean cross-offshore wind from the WSW. It’s a small, clean session. The afternoon is similar but with a stronger wind.

Thursday, August 13th, things get interesting. The morning sees a 5.6ft SW swell with a massive 19-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy is strong (2167). The wind is a moderate cross-off from the WSW, so it’s clean. This is a proper groundswell, and it will wrap nicely into the reef. The afternoon gets a bit cross-choppy as the wind picks up.

Now, the absolute pick of the entire forecast. Friday morning, August 14th, at Noordhoek. The wind is light offshore from the NNE. The swell is a powerful 9.8ft from the SW with a 15-second period, and the combined energy

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