
Surf Forecasts:
Off The Wall surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 4,629 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period with SW 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Off The Wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Stoked to look over the coming swell for Off The Wall. We’ve got a proper run of surf on the way, but you gotta pick the windows. First couple days are clean, mid-week gets cooked, and then we hit a massive pulse of swell from Friday that’s the real deal.
Saturday morning the 18th starts glassy with a 5ft SW swell at 9 seconds, moderate energy. Light airs from the NNW – dead flat calm. Great way to start. The afternoon drops to 4ft, wind turns light onshore from the NW.
Sunday the 19th morning has a 5ft SW swell at 12 seconds, but with a cross-onshore NNW breeze making things bumpy. The afternoon is better – 6ft SW at 11 seconds, cross-offshore SSE wind, clean enough.
Monday the 20th is a beauty in the morning – glassy calm, 5ft SSW swell at 9 seconds, moderate energy. Perfect. Afternoon stays clean with a smaller 4ft SW.
Tuesday the 21st morning is where it picks up. 6ft SSW swell with a long 14-second period, strong to very strong wave energy, and glassy offshore conditions. This is a standout session for experienced surfers. The afternoon jumps to 7ft SW at 13 seconds but the wind goes onshore, making it messy.
Wednesday the 22nd is a right-off. 10ft SW swell with a solid 12-second period, but the wind is hammering cross-onshore from the north at 15 mph in the morning, and onshore at 15 mph in the afternoon. Ugly surf, only for the hardcore. Very strong energy.
Thursday the 23rd is still big at 7ft SW, 12 seconds, but with moderate cross-onshore breeze – lumpy. Afternoon eases to 5ft SW with a very long 17-second period, but on an onshore wind.
Now, Friday the 24th is the big one. Morning delivers an 12ft SW groundswell at 15 seconds, with an offshore SSE breeze – exceptional conditions for expert surfers only, and the wave energy is massive. The afternoon holds the same size and period, clean with a cross-offshore wind. This is big, powerful, and long-period, so it will be fast and critical on the reef – experts only.
Saturday the 25th still pumps. Morning has 8ft SW at 13 seconds, offshore breeze, excellent for experienced surfers. Afternoon drops to 7ft but turns glassy with a 13-second period. Another killer day for the crew who can handle it.
Sunday the 26th gets windy again – 7ft SSW at 14 seconds, but a fresh 18 mph cross-offshore makes for a clean but windy session. Afternoon is even windier at 22 mph but offshore, so it’s clean and gnarly.
Monday the 27th looks excellent. Morning has 8ft SW at a long 15 seconds, cross-offshore breeze, clean with strong energy. The afternoon is 7ft SW at 14 seconds, offshore and glassy. Another top day for experienced surfers.
After that, Tuesday the 28th goes poor, onshore winds, smaller. The run into early August is small, choppy, and not worth getting wet for. The real magic is Friday 24th through Monday 27th.
Water temp at Off The Wall is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual. And yeah, crowds can be a problem here sometimes, especially when the swell lines up. Get out there early or late.
The reef is wide open to SW swell, which is exactly what we’re seeing – optimum direction all the way. That long-period groundswell in the peak days will wrap in nicely here. Better than a beach break for that kind of energy.
Bottom line – first couple days are clean but modest, Wednesday is a stormy mess, then Friday 24th through Monday 27th is the absolute gold window. Big, clean, powerful SW groundswell. That’s your call.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 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 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
307 | 352 | 574 | 561 | 729 | 971 | 323 | 173 | 314 | 1034 | 1452 | 2362 | 2802 | 2349 | 1686 | 1242 | 1045 | 4629 | 2760 | 3385 | 2496 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:25PM1.72m | 6:43AM1.50m | 7:08PM1.63m | 7:28AM1.40m | 7:55PM1.52m | 8:20AM1.30m | 8:49PM1.42m | 9:27AM1.22m | 9:56PM1.35m | 10:55AM1.20m | 11:15PM1.32m | 12:19PM1.24m | 00:26AM1.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:05PM0.39m | 00:45AM0.48m | 12:46PM0.49m | 1:31AM0.57m | 1:29PM0.60m | 2:24AM0.66m | 2:19PM0.71m | 3:28AM0.73m | 3:26PM0.79m | 4:45AM0.76m | 4:51PM0.84m | 6:00AM0.73m | 6:13PM0.82m | ||||||||
7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
307 | 178 | 574 | 561 | 729 | 971 | 323 | 151 | 236 | 1034 | 1452 | 2362 | 2802 | 2349 | 1686 | 1242 | 1045 | 4629 | 2760 | 3385 | 2496 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 16 | WSW 11 | WNW 9 | W 8 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SW 18 | — | — | — | — |
118 | 352 | 191 | 184 | 98 | 69 | 194 | 173 | 314 | 85 | 26 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 275 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | W 10 | W 10 | SSW 7 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 12 | — | — | — | — |
187 | 110 | 98 | 55 | 32 | 19 | 92 | 89 | 61 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | N 4 | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 |
— | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | 19 | 19 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 49 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 191 | 277 | 31 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
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.










