Surf Forecasts:
Salamumu surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, SSE swell with 2,616 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Salamumu this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Salamumu in the next 16 days are 2.4m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (+13) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salamumu over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, family, it’s Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what the ocean’s got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a rough patch, so let’s manage those expectations right now.
The big picture here is that it’s looking pretty bleak. We’ve got a long, drawn-out stretch of poor conditions ahead. For the next week and a half, the wind is going to be our worst enemy – mostly fresh to strong cross-onshore breezes which are gonna chop up the surface and make things messy. We are talking about a solid run of days where the surf might have size, but the quality just won’t be there. The water temp is sitting at 80°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so we don't need to worry about a wetsuit.
The only spot we’re watching is Salamumu. It’s a consistent reef break that’s exposed to the south. It’s an advanced wave, so keep that in mind.
The first real window of potential, if you can call it that, comes on the morning of Wednesday, August 19th. We’ve got a 5ft SW swell with a 16-second period. That long period is nice, but with a cross-on breeze, it's going to have some chop on it. The energy is moderate at 1028. Honestly, it’s marginal at best. That afternoon, the swell bumps up slightly to 5ft, but the conditions are much the same. Not great.
Then the wind really starts to howl. From Thursday the 20th through to Saturday the 23rd, we’ve got strong cross-onshore winds and rough surf. Swell heights get up to 7ft on Thursday morning and 8ft on Saturday afternoon. The wave energy is strong, hitting 4797 on Saturday afternoon, but it’s going to be a complete mess—lumpy, choppy, and hard to surf. This is not a time for a beginner. If you’re an expert and just want to get thrashed, maybe, but the quality won't be there. This kind of setup at a beach break would be more for kitesurfing than paddling, but even that would be tough.
The first half of the following week, from the 24th to the 25th, doesn't offer any relief. The wind stays fresh and onshore. We do see a drop in size to around 3ft on Monday, but it's with a strong breeze, so it's still junk. Tuesday the 25th sees the swell jump back up to 7ft, but that’s with 40 km/h winds and the chance of a thunderstorm. Forget it.
We finally see a change in the breeze around Wednesday the 26th when it goes more cross-shore, but it's still lumpy with a cross-chop. The swell drops off significantly from here. We’re looking at smaller, weaker surf for the rest of the period, with heights mostly under 4ft. The energy drops right off too, down into the low hundreds.
Let’s be real, the outlook for the whole window is grim. There are no standouts. The models are showing a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions at Salamumu, and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon.
However, I’ve seen this before. The spot is consistent, and it tends not to stay this bad for long. Forecasts can shift. But as of right now, the honest truth is: don't get your hopes up for any good waves in the next 16 days. It's a blank run. I'd say it's a good time to wax your board for a different reason and maybe hit the skatepark.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed night, min 24°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Wed night, strong winds from the SE by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sat morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
906 | 1006 | 827 | 1531 | 890 | 683 | 430 | 1082 | 956 | 879 | 2616 | 1668 | 949 | 593 | 373 | 406 | 391 | 293 | 604 | 586 | 364 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:52AM0.85m | 00:19AM0.94m | 12:56PM0.81m | 1:19AM0.91m | 1:59PM0.79m | 2:17AM0.91m | 2:56PM0.80m | 3:08AM0.94m | 3:43PM0.82m | 3:52AM0.97m | 4:24PM0.86m | 4:32AM1.01m | 5:01PM0.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:50PM0.34m | 6:48AM0.34m | 6:51PM0.37m | 7:55AM0.34m | 7:53PM0.38m | 8:53AM0.32m | 8:48PM0.36m | 9:41AM0.28m | 9:35PM0.33m | 10:21AM0.24m | 10:16PM0.29m | 10:57AM0.21m | 10:54PM0.25m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | SSE 8 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 |
906 | 1006 | 827 | 1531 | 890 | 683 | 430 | 264 | 138 | 421 | 1865 | 258 | 211 | 151 | 373 | 406 | 391 | 293 | 212 | 112 | 178 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SE 13 | SSW 7 | S 15 | S 14 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SSE 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 13 | SSW 18 | S 18 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 14 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 17 |
77 | 44 | 79 | 116 | 429 | 264 | 341 | 67 | 150 | 211 | 302 | 16 | 109 | 227 | 144 | 89 | 91 | 293 | 26 | 55 | 148 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SSE 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 15 | SW 15 | SSE 14 | SW 18 | S 17 | SW 13 | SSE 12 | NNE 11 | SSE 13 | ENE 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | N 11 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 12 | N 9 |
45 | 15 | 58 | 54 | 54 | 171 | 71 | 84 | 151 | 84 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 25 | 39 | 2 | 88 | 57 | 24 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 10 | E 7 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
— | — | — | 101 | 82 | 107 | 306 | 1082 | 956 | 879 | 2616 | 1668 | 949 | 593 | 366 | 208 | 325 | 131 | 604 | 586 | 364 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 47 | 47 | 47 | 1521 | 1521 | 1239 | 1232 | 1239 | 1232 | 1197 | 1129 | 1208 | 1232 | 1239 | 1239 | 2516 | 1239 | 1239 | 1182 | 1182 | 864 |
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Information about the Salamumu Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Salamumu provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Salamumu can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Salamumu 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 (Salamumu) 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 Salamumu 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.
Salad Bowls is 19 km (12 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.











