Surf Forecasts:
Oyster Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 5,789 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Oyster Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Oyster Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Oyster Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Oyster Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking at the next few weeks at Oyster Bay. Let’s be straight, this sandbar is a fickle one, and it’s inconsistent. The water is a bone-chilling 58°F, which is a massive 8°F colder than normal for this time of year. You’ll need a serious wetsuit.
The first part of the forecast is rough. Thursday the 20th sees a massive pulse of swell, with a combined energy of 5803, but the wind is all wrong, cross-onshore and choppy, and the swell is a monstrous 13ft from the SW. It’s just too big and messy for this spot. Hard pass.
Friday the 21st morning offers a small window. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the ENE, and the swell drops to a cleaner 8ft from the SW. The energy is still strong (1616), but it’s clean. This is the first real chance for experienced surfers – the size is over 5ft, so it’s not for beginners.
Saturday the 22nd is a total write-off with near-gale winds. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th are marginal, with light cross-onshore winds making for bumpy conditions on a 8ft to 7ft swell. Nothing to write home about.
Now, Tuesday the 25th is the big one. The morning has a clean cross-offshore wind from the ENE, with a solid 8ft swell from the SW. The afternoon is the standout: a clean east wind, the swell pumping at 10ft with a very long 16-second period, and energy hitting 5712. It’s a beast. The file says it’s too big for this break, and at over 8ft, that’s expert-only. For the right crew, it’s a monster session, but heavy.
Wednesday the 26th morning is the best bet for the average surfer. A true offshore wind from the NNE, light and glassy. The swell is a much friendlier 5ft from the SSW. It’s clean, it’s small, and it’s good. That’s your window.
After that, it’s a long, grim run. From Thursday the 27th through the first week of September, it’s almost all onshore wind and messy surf. There are flashes, like the morning of the 30th of August with a clean cross-offshore wind, but the swell is 10ft again – too big. The 2nd of September has a clean cross-shore wind and a 8ft, 15-second swell, but it’s listed as marginal.
The 3rd of September is another big-wave day. A massive 13ft SW swell with a 14-second period, clean cross-offshore wind from the east, and energy of 5390. It’s a “too big for this break” call again. A spectacle for the experts, but not for the faint of heart.
The Bottom Line: For the gnarliest, heaviest waves, aim for Tuesday the 25th of August afternoon and Wednesday the 3rd of September morning – expert only. For the best all-around clean surf that’s actually surfable, Wednesday the 26th of August morning is the clear winner. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have company. Everything else is a battle with the wind or the size.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu night, strong winds from the W by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the E by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5789 | 4665 | 2630 | 1610 | 1302 | 650 | 1148 | 785 | 1236 | 1585 | 1685 | 1915 | 1169 | 997 | 780 | 2371 | 3929 | 2201 | 633 | 522 | 550 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:18PM1.08m | 9:12AM0.92m | 10:37PM0.99m | 12:36PM0.95m | 00:51AM1.06m | 1:39PM1.09m | 1:43AM1.19m | 2:14PM1.23m | 2:17AM1.31m | 2:42PM1.37m | 2:46AM1.43m | 3:09PM1.50m | 3:14AM1.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:47PM0.62m | 2:55AM0.69m | 3:11PM0.74m | 5:56AM0.71m | 6:33PM0.73m | 7:26AM0.59m | 7:40PM0.61m | 8:03AM0.45m | 8:15PM0.48m | 8:31AM0.32m | 8:45PM0.35m | 8:57AM0.20m | 9:13PM0.24m | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
— | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 26 | 32 | 30 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 23 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
5789 | 4665 | 2630 | 1610 | 1302 | 650 | 460 | 785 | 1236 | 1585 | 1685 | 1915 | 1169 | 997 | 780 | 2371 | 3929 | 2201 | 700 | 522 | 550 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | — | WSW 11 | E 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | WSW 14 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 |
14 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | 329 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 347 | 6 | 2 | 174 | 636 | 1050 | 1783 | — | 633 | 546 | 317 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | E 8 | — | ENE 8 | — | WSW 13 | — | — | E 9 | WSW 12 | E 10 | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | 12 | 5 | — | 11 | — | 101 | — | — | 2 | 206 | 7 | — | — | 54 | 49 | 19 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 3 | — | SW 11 | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | E 5 | — | — | WSW 4 |
— | — | — | — | 5 | — | 1148 | 361 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 46 | — | — | 34 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 189 | 47 | 170 | 132 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 64 | 189 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Oyster Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Oyster Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Oyster Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Oyster Bay 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 (Oyster Bay) 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 Oyster Bay 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.
Oyster Bay is 24 km (15 miles) from the city of Kruisfontein. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Kruisfontein. Kruisfontein has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











