Surf Forecasts:
Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,126 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period with SSW 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 25) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. 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 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 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 this stretch of coast. The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag early on, but there’s a solid run of clean waves brewing for the end of the first week and into the second. We’ll have a few small days with tough winds to get through, but patient souls will be rewarded.
The water temperature at Strand (Pipe) is sitting at 58.3°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – that anomaly is about a degree and a half below average, so don’t skip the wetsuit.
Monday the 24th kicks things off, but honestly, it’s a write-off. You’ve got a 3.6ft SW swell, but a moderate cross-shore breeze has it chopped and messy. The energy is weak, and the score is a no-go. Wait it out.
Tuesday the 25th morning sees the first real pulse of interest. A 5.2ft SW groundswell with a very long 15-second period rolls in. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SE, and the energy picks up. This will be a standout session for the intermediate crew – the longer period means better shape and more push, though that big period can make it a bit straight at Strand if the tide’s off. Tuesday afternoon drops a bit to 4.3ft but stays clean.
Wednesday the 26th morning offers a shift: a 4.9ft SE swell with a short 7-second period, but it’s got clean offshore wind from the east. The energy is moderate and conditions are clean. It’s a solid, fun option. Wednesday afternoon goes glassy and small with a 2.6ft SSW groundswell – an incredibly long 16-second pulse that is best for the experienced, as it’ll be a bit straight but very clean with gentle offshore wind.
Then we hit a rough patch from Thursday the 27th through to Monday the 31st. Winds go onshore or cross, swell drops and gets messy. There’s a window on Friday the 28th afternoon with a 3.0ft S swell and light cross-off breeze, but it’s small. Also, Monday the 31st afternoon has a 3.9ft SW swell with light SE cross-off breeze – both of these are just "good," not great.
Tuesday the 1st of September is a write-off with strong onshore winds, and Wednesday the 2nd is sloppy with rain.
Now, the real excitement starts Thursday the 3rd of September. Thursday morning brings a solid 9.8ft SE swell with moderate cross-offshore wind from the SE – energy is strong. This is big and clean, but at 9.8ft, it’s expert territory only. Thursday afternoon the swell pumps up to a massive 14.8ft SSE swell – that’s powerful stuff, and with fresh cross-off winds, it’s one of the best on offer for big-wave chargers. This is a true standout.
Friday the 4th of September keeps the energy going: 13.1ft SSE swell with clean offshore winds from the east. Again, purely for experts, but the conditions are excellent – that offshore wind will groom it beautifully.
Saturday the 5th of September drops to a still-chunky 6.6ft S swell with moderate offshore wind. This is more accessible for strong intermediates, and the conditions are clean.
Sunday the 6th of September is a glassy winner: 6.6ft to 6.9ft S swell with light offshore and glassy conditions. This is the best all-rounder of the run – still sizeable but cleaner than clean. Perfect for a Sunday session.
Monday the 7th of September fades to 2.6-3.0ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period and glassy morning winds. It’s small but clean, a nice finisher.
Tuesday the 8th of September morning has a 3.0ft SSW groundswell with light cross-off wind, but it’s marginal.
Overall, the standouts are Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th for the brave, or Sunday the 6th for the best combo of size and glassy conditions. Don’t bother paddling out until Tuesday the 25th morning.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 8 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1126 | 1034 | 676 | 543 | 157 | 341 | 528 | 522 | 426 | 351 | 224 | 172 | 130 | 134 | 194 | 238 | 239 | 280 | 140 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:41AM1.25m | 2:09PM1.32m | 2:14AM1.35m | 2:37PM1.44m | 2:44AM1.43m | 3:05PM1.53m | 3:14AM1.49m | 3:33PM1.61m | 3:44AM1.52m | 4:01PM1.65m | 4:15AM1.52m | 4:31PM1.65m | 4:47AM1.49m | ||||||
Low Tide | 8:00AM0.31m | 8:17PM0.35m | 8:28AM0.21m | 8:47PM0.25m | 8:55AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.17m | 9:22AM0.09m | 9:44PM0.11m | 9:49AM0.06m | 10:14PM0.07m | 10:18AM0.07m | 10:44PM0.08m | |||||||
— | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
6:20 | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 17 | 21 | 15 | 17 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 10 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSE 8 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 11 | SW 14 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | SW 12 | S 7 |
1126 | 1034 | 676 | 543 | 96 | 341 | 528 | 522 | 426 | 351 | 224 | 172 | 130 | 126 | 194 | 110 | 172 | 175 | 130 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | S 16 | SSW 15 | — | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSE 10 | SW 12 |
157 | 226 | 123 | 86 | 128 | 245 | 74 | — | 11 | 35 | 48 | 95 | 130 | 134 | 89 | 238 | 239 | 10 | 140 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SSW 11 | WSW 11 | SSE 14 | S 13 | SW 16 | — | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 13 | E 13 |
— | — | — | 102 | 157 | 333 | 210 | 256 | 180 | 79 | 23 | 62 | 90 | 69 | — | 40 | 22 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 8 | — | NW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | WNW 2 | WNW 4 | — | — | S 8 | — |
21 | 36 | 80 | 131 | 85 | 169 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | — | — | 280 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 302 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











