Strand (Pipe) Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.12° S 18.83° E

Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Strand (Pipe) sea temperature is
13.8° C
1.8° 

Strand (Pipe) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 3,220 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Strand (Pipe) this week:

The surf forecast for Strand (Pipe) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Strand (Pipe) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Tue 18th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 12s
Best Surf11PM (Sat 22nd Aug)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 22nd Aug)10ft (3.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strand (Pipe) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, let's have a look at what's on the table for good old Strand (Pipe). It’s a bit of a waiting game, to be honest.

Right at the top, the water is sitting at 57°, which is notably colder than usual for this time of year, a good couple of degrees below average. So, you’ll want the thickest wetsuit you’ve got.

We’ve got a solid window of surf kicking off on Tuesday, the 18th of August. Tuesday morning is where it’s at. We’re seeing a clean 6ft SW groundswell with a 12-second period and a light cross-off breeze. The combined energy is pumping at a strong 1691, and for a spot like this, it’s in the “excellent for experienced surfers” zone. That’s the best start we get – clean lines, decent power, and not too blown out. If you can get out there Tuesday morning, do it. The afternoon holds up at 6ft but the wind picks up a knot, making it a bit more of a scramble.

Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th are still in the 5ft to 8ft range, but the wind goes cross-shore and the quality drops. It’s surfable, but messy. Thursday afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-off breeze, but the model scores aren’t backing it as a standout.

Then we hit a real rough patch. Friday through to Sunday the 24th is mostly small, weak, and onshore. Saturday the 22nd is particularly nasty with rain showers and a strong NW wind making a complete mess of things. The swell jumps to 10ft on Saturday afternoon, but it’s crossed-up and choppy with a 13-second period – definitely only for the experienced, and even then, it’s not going to be pretty. That’s a slog.

The next real highlight doesn’t come until a full week later, Tuesday the 25th of August. This is a promising blip. We get another clean 6ft SW groundswell, but this time the period stretches out to a very long 14 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is light and cross-off again, and the combined energy is a solid 1340. At a beach-and-reef setup like Strand, that long period might make the peaks a bit straight, but with that wind, there will be some excellent, hollow ones if you pick your peak. The afternoon session on the 25th is equally clean at 6ft.

The end of the run, from the 30th of August into the first week of September, sees more activity. The standout in that later period is Sunday, the 30th of August. You’ve got an 8ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, and the wind goes *offshore* from the East. That’s a full-on green light. It’s a big swell, 8ft, so this is for experienced crew only. The combined energy is a massive 2187. That is the biggest, cleanest window of the whole outlook, but it’s a long way off, so keep your fingers crossed. The Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September also have some glassy moments as the swell drops, so there’ll be smaller, cleaner options for the intermediates.

So, for the best of the best: Tuesday the 18th of August for the first clean pulse, and Sunday the 30th of August for the biggest, cleanest offshore swell. The rest is a mix of average and onshore slop, especially that week in between. Crowds at Strand are “sometimes,” so mid-week sessions on those standouts should be manageable.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

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
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
2
2
3
3
3
3
1
2
1
0
2
4
3
3
3
1
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
SW
12
1.9
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
1.7
SSW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.7
SSW
13
2.3
SSW
13
1.9
SSW
13
1.6
SSW
12
1.4
SSW
11
1.4
WSW
11
1.2
SSW
11
1.8
SW
10
3
SSW
13
2.5
SW
13
1.9
SW
11
1.7
SSW
11
1.2
SSW
10
1.3
SSW
10
1.2
SW
10
1.5
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1025
1249
1043
808
718
968
1753
1108
722
495
458
305
614
2940
2078
961
726
331
296
286
734
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
15
SSE
5
E
10
S
10
SSW
5
ESE
15
S
20
SSE
10
ESE
5
SSW
10
SW
20
N
20
NW
15
WSW
5
ESE
5
S
15
S
10
SSE
10
S
15
S
15
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
6:46PM1.31m
7:09AM1.11m
7:26PM1.17m
8:02AM1.00m
8:28PM1.05m
9:45AM0.92m
10:24PM0.99m
11:56AM0.97m
00:08AM1.05m
1:00PM1.08m
1:03AM1.15m
1:38PM1.20m
1:41AM1.25m
Low Tide
12:28PM0.38m
1:06AM0.43m
1:03PM0.51m
1:52AM0.55m
1:53PM0.63m
3:15AM0.64m
3:47PM0.72m
5:34AM0.63m
6:08PM0.67m
6:48AM0.53m
7:08PM0.57m
7:29AM0.42m
7:46PM0.46m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:20
7:20
7:18
7:16
7:16
7:15
7:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:17
6:19
6:19
6:20
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
16
17
13
15
16
13
15
16
13
17
19
14
14
16
14
14
16
12
15
16
13
Feels °C
14
14
10
13
14
12
13
13
10
16
18
14
11
11
13
12
13
9
13
13
11
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Strand (Pipe) Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Strand (Pipe) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Strand (Pipe) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Strand (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 (Strand (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 Strand (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.

Strand (Pipe) is 18 km (11 miles) from the city of Grabouw. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Grabouw. Grabouw has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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