Surf Forecasts:
Off The Wall surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 6,130 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Off The Wall this week:
The surf forecast for Off The Wall over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Off The Wall in the next 16 days are 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Off The Wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and get straight to it. We’ve got a run of solid swell on the cards for Off The Wall, and it’s gonna take some smart timing to get the best of it.
The opening salvos arrive Tuesday morning, August 18th, with a clean 7ft SW swell rolling in. The cross-off breeze will have it looking pretty, but it’s really just the warm-up. Things jump up a notch on Thursday morning, August 20th, when that swell kicks to 12ft from the SW. The energy readings are pumping, and with light cross-off winds, this is a standout session for experienced surfers, no question. This is the kind of day you call in sick for.
We do hit a bit of a speed bump on Saturday, August 22nd. The morning gets messy with a northerly cross-on chop, and the afternoon turns onshore, making for poor conditions despite a 10ft swell. You’ll want to sit that one out.
The good news is it cleans right back up for Sunday morning, August 23rd. That’s a lovely 8ft SW groundswell, light winds, and a much better wave. The following Tuesday, August 25th, looks like another top pick, with a 8ft SW swell and a true offshore breeze keeping the walls crisp. The period jumps to 14 seconds, so there’s some serious push behind it.
Now, for the real monster. Looking ahead to Friday, August 28th, there’s a big, long-period SW groundswell forecast to fill in, hitting 13ft by the morning with a 16-second period. The morning is a bit cross-onshore, but the afternoon looks exceptional for experts. The energy readings are off the charts. This is the big one, but it’s a week out, so we lock it in as a promising, powerful prospect rather than a guarantee. It's going to be a heavy, expert-only affair.
After that, there’s some strong offshore wind on Saturday the 29th, which will make it glassy but tough to paddle into. The following Sunday, August 30th, cleans right back up with 10ft SW swell and light winds—another excellent day on the reef. Things start to taper off in the last couple of days, with a few smaller, wind-affected waves, but there’s one last little pulse of 5ft glassy surf on the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd.
So, the standout days are Thursday the 20th and the big groundswell on Friday the 28th. Get on it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1216 | 2596 | 2495 | 1866 | 1638 | 1818 | 3370 | 2457 | 1547 | 1027 | 394 | 322 | 1351 | 5346 | 4552 | 2402 | 1807 | 1372 | 569 | 370 | 1044 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:59PM1.51m | 7:19AM1.32m | 7:41PM1.38m | 8:14AM1.22m | 8:42PM1.27m | 9:53AM1.16m | 10:27PM1.21m | 11:59AM1.20m | 00:10AM1.25m | 1:03PM1.31m | 1:08AM1.34m | 1:42PM1.42m | 1:47AM1.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:35PM0.59m | 1:15AM0.65m | 1:14PM0.71m | 2:05AM0.76m | 2:09PM0.83m | 3:29AM0.83m | 3:59PM0.91m | 5:24AM0.82m | 6:03PM0.88m | 6:38AM0.74m | 7:07PM0.78m | 7:23AM0.64m | 7:47PM0.67m | ||||||||
7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | |
— | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SSW 9 | SW 13 |
1216 | 2596 | 2495 | 1866 | 1638 | 1818 | 3370 | 2457 | 1547 | 1027 | 394 | 322 | 1351 | 5346 | 4552 | 2402 | 1807 | 1372 | 569 | 272 | 1044 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | — | — | — | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | — | SSW 10 | WSW 11 | SW 16 |
678 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 379 | 291 | — | — | — | 643 | 451 | — | 305 | 370 | 504 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | SW 14 | W 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 136 | 95 | 233 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | NW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 79 | 53 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 31 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Off The Wall Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Off The Wall provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Off The Wall can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Off The Wall 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 (Off The Wall) 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 Off The Wall 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Cape Town? If you are looking for accommodation near Off The Wall, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 8 km (5 miles) away. Other places in and around Cape Town where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Robben Island which is 12 km (7 miles) away, Bellville, Atlantis and Kayamnandi.











