
Surf Forecasts:
Noordhoek surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 5,197 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Noordhoek this week:
The surf forecast for Noordhoek over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Noordhoek in the next 16 days are 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Noordhoek over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, checking in on the surf outlook for our little corner of the coast.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a proper pulse of swell hitting, but the wind is going to be the main character for a while. We’re looking at a solid run of south-west groundswell, but the first week is a bit of a battle with the elements before things clean up nicely for the second week.
The first real opportunity is Thursday morning, 6 August, at Noordhoek (Western Cape). It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got to start. There’s a solid 12 ft south-west swell with a period of 13 seconds—a proper groundswell. The wave energy is very strong (4277 combined energy). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the west at 3 mph, so the waves will be clean. It’s a reef break that is very consistent and exposed to the swell, so it’ll be handling that energy well. The crowd factor is "sometimes", so you might have a few out, but it’s worth the paddle. This is for experienced surfers only though; 12 ft is too big for beginners. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird there.
After that morning, the wind swings around and conditions get messy. Thursday afternoon turns to a fresh cross-shore breeze from the south-west at 19 mph and the quality drops right off. From there, we go into a rough patch. Friday through to the start of the following week is all onshore or cross-onshore wind with lumpy, choppy surf. The swell stays solid—8 ft to 12 ft—but it’s blown out. Not worth paddling out for a proper session.
There’s a real gap of about five days of poor conditions before we see a glimmer of hope. Friday morning, 14 August, things start to turn. The swell drops to 4 ft from the south-west, but the wind goes light cross-offshore from the north-northeast at 9 mph. The wave energy is moderate (668). The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” and while it’s a smaller day, it’ll be clean. It’s not a standout compared to the early big swell, but it’s a nice, manageable size.
Then, Sunday morning, 16 August, is the real sleeper. The swell is only 4 ft from the south-west, but the wind is glassy—dead calm from the northeast at 3 mph. The wave energy is moderate (428). It’ll be glassy, clean, and a total joy. This is a classic “get out there early” session. The crowd might show up when it’s that good, but it’ll be worth dealing with.
The following week, from Monday 17 August through Thursday 20 August, offers more clean, cross-off wind conditions, but the swell stays small, between 4 ft and 6 ft. It’s consistent, clean, and fine for a paddle, but nothing to write home about. Tuesday morning, 18 August, sees a little bump up to 7 ft with light cross-shore wind, but it’s marginal. Not a standout.
The long-range promise for Friday morning, 21 August, shows a 7 ft south-west swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is cross-shore, so keep an eye on that one.
Overall, the best on offer is Thursday morning, 6 August for the big, powerful, clean session, and Sunday morning, 16 August for the small, glassy, soul-surf session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed night, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Thu morning, strong winds from the WSW by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 11°C on Sun afternoon). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1888 | 4277 | 3876 | 2148 | 2269 | 2605 | 3326 | 2557 | 1733 | 4974 | 4458 | 4193 | 3060 | 2493 | 1481 | 3435 | 2789 | 2177 | 592 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:04PM1.60m | 8:28AM1.37m | 9:12PM1.49m | 9:57AM1.28m | 10:47PM1.44m | 11:49AM1.30m | 00:24AM1.48m | 1:15PM1.44m | 1:36AM1.59m | 2:13PM1.60m | 2:30AM1.71m | 3:00PM1.76m | 3:15AM1.81m | ||||||
Low Tide | 2:17AM0.64m | 2:23PM0.65m | 3:36AM0.73m | 3:50PM0.76m | 5:33AM0.73m | 5:57PM0.75m | 7:06AM0.62m | 7:26PM0.64m | 8:04AM0.48m | 8:24PM0.49m | 8:49AM0.35m | 9:11PM0.36m | |||||||
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
5:39 | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | E 10 | SSW 12 | E 10 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 |
1888 | 4277 | 3876 | 2148 | 2269 | 2605 | 3326 | 2557 | 1733 | 4974 | 4458 | 49 | 3060 | 29 | 974 | 3435 | 2789 | 2177 | 592 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | — | E 10 | S 14 | E 9 | E 9 | WSW 11 | S 15 | S 12 |
183 | 116 | 92 | 65 | 66 | 65 | 148 | 164 | 93 | 73 | 65 | — | 44 | 35 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 17 | 48 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | — | ENE 9 | — | — | — | SW 25 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | — | 29 | — | — | — | 156 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | ENE 6 | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | — | — | SSW 13 | — | SSW 12 | S 10 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 6 |
49 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 257 | 25 | 315 | — | — | 4193 | — | 2493 | 1481 | — | 29 | 46 | 333 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 0 | 66 | 8 | 145 | 264 | 0 | 206 | 206 | 6 | 66 | 3078 | 579 | 264 | 264 | 264 | 264 | 628 | 206 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Noordhoek Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Noordhoek provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Noordhoek can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Noordhoek 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 (Noordhoek) 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 Noordhoek 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.
Noordhoek is 11 km (7 miles) from the city of Port Elizabeth. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











