
Surf Forecasts:
Pipe surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SW swell with 4,487 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pipe this week:
The surf forecast for Pipe over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pipe in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pipe over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and miles.
So we’re looking at Pipe for the whole run. It’s a sheltered reef, doesn’t break often, and needs the right swell direction. There’s some real energy coming through, but the timing and wind are going to be a bit of a dance. Gotta wait for the first real highlight.
The first couple of days are a wash. Monday and Tuesday are just a mess with onshore winds and nasty conditions. Wednesday the 5th of August is rideable but nothing to write home about – just waist-high, average stuff.
Thursday the 6th of August is where it gets real. The morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze from the southwest. You’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the south-southwest, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which means real shape and power, but it can be a bit tricky on a reef like Pipe – might make it a bit fast. The combined energy is pumping at 1576, so there’s plenty of punch. This one is for the intermediate crowd.
Friday the 7th is a no-go with onshore winds ruining it. Saturday the 8th of August, though, looks prime. Saturday morning you’ve got a clean 5ft south-southwest swell with a 14-second period, and the wind is offshore from the west-southwest at just 6 mph. That’s the kind of glassy, clean morning that gets the stoke going. Combined energy is a meaty 1315. This is a strong pick for the best session.
Sunday the 9th of August is also a big one. Sunday morning is offshore again, 7ft from the south-southwest, 13-second period. That’s a big, powerful swell. It’s over 8ft, so this one is for the experts only. Combined energy is a very strong 1812. Go get it if you’ve got the nerve.
Then we hit a wall. From Monday the 10th through to Wednesday the 12th, it’s a total disaster with strong side winds and rain. Forget it. Thursday the 13th of August is back on. Thursday morning is clean with a light offshore from the west, but the swell has dropped to 5ft. Still a 15-second period, so the quality is there. Combined energy is 1252. A solid, fun session.
Friday the 14th of August is the real gem. Friday morning is glassy – a light breeze from the east-northeast, zero wind. The swell is 5ft from the south-southwest with a 14-second period. Clean, glassy, and that longer period will give you some proper long, lined-up waves. Combined energy is 987 – moderate, but the quality will be top-notch. For a reef like Pipe, that’s a dream setup. Crowds are possible here, but this is the one to circle on the calendar.
After that, it’s a slow fade. The weekend of the 15th and 16th is small and weak, and everything into the next week is just tiny, short-period junk. The 18th of August has a 4ft swell but with a pathetic 6-second period – that’s just wind slop. Not worth the paddle.
Best on offer: It’s a close call between Saturday morning the 8th of August (offshore, 5ft, 14s) and the glassy Friday morning the 14th of August (5ft, 14s). For pure quality and clean conditions, I’d go with that Friday the 14th. Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to worry about.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed night, calm by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
942 | 757 | 643 | 492 | 407 | 335 | 342 | 267 | 561 | 845 | 1463 | 1426 | 880 | 1275 | 1106 | 1396 | 1017 | 1429 | 3459 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:10AM1.67m | 6:36PM1.77m | 6:47AM1.59m | 7:15PM1.70m | 7:31AM1.48m | 8:04PM1.60m | 8:28AM1.37m | 9:12PM1.49m | 9:57AM1.28m | 10:47PM1.44m | 11:49AM1.30m | 00:24AM1.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:06AM0.39m | 12:12PM0.33m | 00:42AM0.45m | 12:47PM0.41m | 1:24AM0.54m | 1:28PM0.52m | 2:17AM0.64m | 2:23PM0.65m | 3:36AM0.73m | 3:50PM0.76m | 5:33AM0.73m | 5:57PM0.75m | |||||||
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
5:37 | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 29 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 15 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 8 | SSW 14 | E 9 | SSW 13 |
942 | 757 | 643 | 492 | 407 | 335 | 342 | 267 | 217 | 845 | 1463 | 1426 | 880 | 1275 | 1106 | 499 | 1017 | 148 | 1198 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 18 | E 10 | — | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
277 | 294 | 219 | 190 | 149 | 112 | 97 | 167 | 561 | 145 | 113 | 90 | 318 | 44 | — | 1396 | 298 | 180 | 129 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 13 | — | — | — | S 19 | SSW 16 | SW 11 | SW 10 | — | — | SSW 20 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
131 | 4 | — | — | — | 7 | 51 | 56 | 34 | — | — | 38 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 3 | E 6 | — | — | WSW 3 | — | ESE 3 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | E 4 | ENE 8 | WSW 3 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
— | — | 3 | 85 | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | 19 | — | — | — | — | 46 | 1000 | 2 | 1429 | 3459 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 0 | 14 | 244 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pipe Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pipe provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pipe can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pipe 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 (Pipe) 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 Pipe 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.
Pipe is 6 km (4 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.











