Surf Forecasts:
Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SSW swell with 1,431 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period. 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 1.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strand (Pipe) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range look at the Strand (Pipe). Strap in, because this one’s got some spice in the second week, but the first few days are a bit of a mixed bag.
Right off the bat, the water is running a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at about 58°F. You’ll feel that chill on the paddle out.
Things kick off on Wednesday the 2nd, but don’t get too excited just yet. We’ve got a solid 6ft southwest swell rolling in, with a long period of 13 seconds and moderate to strong wave energy (1299). Problem is, it’s a bit of a washing machine out there with a light cross-shore breeze messing with the surface. Tide conditions are questionable too, so it’s more one for watching than for paddling out. That’s the best on offer for Wednesday, truth be told.
Thursday the 3rd sees the swell drop right down to 3ft, and the wind swings cross-offshore, cleaning things up nicely for the morning. It’s small, but for a longboard or a funboard, it’s a good chance for a cruisy session. By the afternoon, though, the wind howls up to 25 mph and the swell jumps to 8ft with a short 9-second period. That’s messy and probably more fun for the kite crew than paddle surfers.
Friday the 4th is much the same story – solid 8ft swell, but that howling 25-28 mph wind keeps things rough. One for the experts only, if anyone’s keen.
Saturday the 5th morning offers a silver lining: a 6ft southeast swell with a clean offshore breeze. The period’s a short 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and won’t have that punchy grunt, but at least it’ll be clean. By afternoon, the wind picks up again and the quality fades.
Now, listen up, because Sunday the 6th is the standout of the whole forecast. The morning brings a 5ft south-southwest groundswell with a very long 18-second period and strong wave energy (1549). That’s proper long-period energy, which at a beach-and-reef setup like the Strand (Pipe) might make it break a little straight, but the power and shape will be there for experienced surfers. And wait, the afternoon? Glassy. Dead flat calm wind, 4ft swell, 16-second period – that’s as clean as it gets for a Sunday afternoon session. If you can only pick one window, this is it.
Things go quiet again from Monday the 7th through to Wednesday the 9th. We’re looking at messy cross-onshore winds and small, weak swell. Not worth the drive.
Thursday the 10th morning gives us a glimmer – a glassy 3ft west-southwest swell. It’s tiny, but it’s clean. Nothing to write home about, but a fun little dawny if you’re local.
The following week, from the 11th to the 13th, the southeast winds are back with a cross-offshore flow, bringing some chest-to-head-high swell (4ft to 7ft), but the period stays short, and the conditions are just marginal. The best of that stretch is Sunday the 13th afternoon, which sees a 8ft southeast swell with moderate energy (1163) and clean conditions, but nothing special.
Then we get a real treat on the 14th and 15th. Monday the 14th morning is dead calm and glassy with a tiny 2ft south-southwest swell. Tuesday the 15th is even better: zero wind again, glassy as a mirror, with a clean 4ft southwest swell all day. Perfect for a longboard or a mid-length. Not big, but gorgeous.
And finally, the 16th and 17th. Wednesday the 16th afternoon brings a proper big swell – 10ft from the south-southwest with a very long 16-second period and very strong wave energy (4975). That’s a lot of water moving, and with a cross-shore breeze, it’ll be a beast. Only for the hardcore experts. Thursday the 17th pulls back to a still-chunky 7ft southwest swell with cross-offshore winds, cleaner but still heavy. This whole late-period action is promising, but with it being so far out, keep an eye on the forecasts – things can change.
So, bottom line: Sunday the 6th is your absolute best bet, and the glassy mornings of the 14th and 15th are sneaky good for smaller gear. The big stuff on the 16th and 17th is for the brave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the SE by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Sat morning, calm by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 21 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1299 | 991 | 466 | 256 | 1039 | 1356 | 1010 | 853 | 606 | 392 | 318 | 777 | 1431 | 748 | 489 | 493 | 421 | 359 | 183 | 76 | 40 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 6:17PM1.43m | 6:46AM1.21m | 7:09PM1.29m | 7:53AM1.09m | 8:29PM1.16m | 9:45AM1.04m | 10:28PM1.13m | 11:39AM1.12m | 00:05AM1.21m | 12:47PM1.28m | 1:06AM1.34m | 1:36PM1.45m | 1:53AM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:58AM0.28m | 00:38AM0.30m | 12:45PM0.40m | 1:37AM0.43m | 1:53PM0.54m | 3:13AM0.52m | 3:57PM0.60m | 5:15AM0.49m | 5:55PM0.51m | 6:33AM0.36m | 7:03PM0.35m | 7:24AM0.23m | 7:51PM0.20m | ||||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 25 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 21 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | S 10 |
1299 | 991 | 466 | 256 | 118 | 54 | 4 | 16 | 57 | 108 | 102 | 777 | 1431 | 748 | 489 | 493 | 421 | 359 | 183 | 76 | 29 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | S 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSW 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 12 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 10 | SW 11 |
— | — | 151 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 86 | 10 | 10 | 34 | 112 | 54 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 41 | 71 | 40 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 13 | — | SW 25 | SSW 12 | S 9 | SE 10 | — | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | ESE 12 | — | SW 15 | SW 14 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 86 | — | 25 | 15 | 6 | 24 | — | 18 | 16 | 88 | — | 35 | 33 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 4 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — | NNW 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 3 | — | — |
— | — | 28 | 160 | 1039 | 1356 | 1010 | 853 | 606 | 392 | 318 | 292 | 663 | 450 | — | 3 | 9 | 13 | 3 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 873 | 207 | 1484 | 3843 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 33 | 33 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











