Surf Forecasts:
Noordhoek surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 11,293 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Noordhoek in the next 16 days are 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Noordhoek over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve had a good look at the charts for our local stretch. The next couple of weeks are looking bumpy but with a couple of glassy windows that could be magic. The water is sitting at 59°F right now, which is a solid 7°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a seriously chilly anomaly, so you’ll want a thick suit and booties.
We’re starting off with a bit of a wait. The first real action is Tuesday the 18th, but it’s a bit of a messy offering. Tuesday morning brings a 7ft SW swell at 13 seconds, but with a 25 km/h cross-off breeze from the WSW, the wave energy is massive at 1657 but it’s described as marginal. The afternoon cleans up a touch with a 8ft SW swell but the wind swings cross-shore, and the energy jumps to 2429 – still, it’s not the cleanest.
The standout of the entire run is Wednesday morning, the 19th of August. We’ve got a solid 10ft SW swell at 13 seconds, and the wind is absolutely glass – a light 5 km/h offshore from the NW. The combined energy is pumping at 2381, and it’s tagged as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a big, powerful groundswell with a 13-second period, so it’s going to be a proper wave out at Noordhoek reef. The water is still freezing, but the conditions will be a dream. The crowd might be around, so keep an eye out.
The rest of the week is a bit of a mixed bag. Wednesday afternoon turns nasty with a 40 km/h cross-off wind that whips up a 10ft swell, but it’s a strong breeze and messy. Thursday the 20th offers a big 13ft SW swell at 13 seconds in the morning with a 20 km/h cross-off, but it’s still marginal. The energy is massive at 5697, but it’s a tough one to call. Friday the 21st drops off a bit, with a 8ft SW swell and a 15 km/h cross-shore breeze, but the afternoon is a write-off with a 0-score.
The weekend gets wild. Saturday the 22nd has a 55 km/h cross-off in the afternoon pushing a 18ft SW swell – the energy is a huge 7561, but the wind is a near gale, making it only for the truly unhinged and likely more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Sunday the 23rd keeps the size with a 13ft SW swell in the morning, but the wind is still cross-off at 25 km/h.
The next real glimmer is Tuesday the 25th of August. Another morning of glassy conditions – a 5 km/h S wind with a 10ft SW swell at 12 seconds. The wave energy is 2597, and it’s tagged as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a solid, clean swell, but it’s a touch smaller than the 19th. It’s a good second option.
The rest of the forecast rolls into the first week of September with a few more promising windows. Wednesday the 2nd of September morning has a clean 12ft SW swell at 15 seconds with a light 10 km/h cross-shore from the ENE, and the energy is huge at 4957. It’s a long-period groundswell (15 seconds), so it’ll be lined up and powerful, but that long period can make it break a bit straight at beach breaks – it’s a reef, so it should handle it well. It’s a promising option but it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on the charts.
Overall, the two true standouts are Wednesday the 19th of August morning and Tuesday the 25th of August morning. The 19th is the pick of the run – glassy, 10ft, and SW groundswell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the SW by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Fri night, near gales from the WSW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | WSW 8 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1657 | 2429 | 3234 | 2381 | 2536 | 1209 | 5697 | 4728 | 2698 | 1655 | 1160 | 635 | 1030 | 7561 | 11293 | 5939 | 3540 | 2018 | 1006 | 1401 | 2196 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:09PM1.62m | 7:17AM1.41m | 7:47PM1.47m | 8:00AM1.28m | 8:40PM1.33m | 9:23AM1.17m | 10:26PM1.24m | 12:01PM1.17m | 00:29AM1.27m | 1:26PM1.30m | 1:33AM1.37m | 2:08PM1.45m | 2:13AM1.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:39PM0.47m | 1:11AM0.62m | 1:11PM0.61m | 1:49AM0.75m | 1:50PM0.76m | 2:50AM0.87m | 3:01PM0.91m | 5:32AM0.90m | 6:18PM0.93m | 7:15AM0.79m | 7:37PM0.81m | 7:57AM0.66m | 8:16PM0.69m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
— | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | E 9 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 |
1657 | 2429 | 3234 | 2381 | 60 | 1209 | 5697 | 4728 | 2698 | 1655 | 1160 | 635 | 455 | 38 | 16 | 5939 | 3540 | 2018 | 1006 | 1401 | 2196 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | — | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | WSW 11 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | E 10 | E 10 |
125 | 94 | 88 | 66 | — | 56 | 35 | 23 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 311 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | 513 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 12 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | WSW 8 | SW 11 | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 2536 | 543 | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | 1030 | 7561 | 11293 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 206 | 65 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 206 | 6 | 208 | 663 | 209 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











