Surf Forecasts:
Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 5,553 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Strand (Pipe) in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strand (Pipe) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Strand (Pipe) over the next couple of weeks. The water’s sitting at 59°F, which is about a degree and a half cooler than average for this time of year – a bit on the brisk side, so suit up.
Right now, it’s quiet. The first chance for a wave comes Friday afternoon, August 28th, but it’s only 3ft from the south with a 10-second period and a light cross-shore breeze – marginal at best, with weak energy (392). Not worth the effort. Saturday morning the 29th is cleaner: 2ft of SW swell with a nice 14-second period and a light cross-offshore breeze making it glassy. That’s a solid little session for a longboard. The energy is still moderate (373). Saturday afternoon gets sloppy with 4ft and a 20 km/h cross-shore – skip it.
Sunday the 30th picks up. Morning sees 5ft of SW swell, 12-second period, clean with a cross-offshore breeze and moderate energy (729). It’s rated marginal but could be fun for intermediates. The afternoon drops to 4ft, same direction, still clean. Monday the 31st is back to smaller stuff – around 4-4ft with cross-shore winds – nothing special.
Tuesday, September 1st brings a bump: 6ft in the morning, then 6ft in the afternoon, both from the SSW with a 13-second period, light cross-onshore breeze. Energy jumps to 1030 and 1198 – moderate to strong. Still marginal though.
Here’s the standout – Wednesday morning, September 2nd. 10ft of SSW swell, 15-second period – a proper long-period groundswell – with a clean cross-offshore breeze and energy at a massive 3522. This is big, powerful, for experienced surfers only. The wind keeps it clean, so if you’ve got the skills, that’s your session. The afternoon drops to 7ft but the wind picks up.
After that, it gets wild. Thursday the 3rd has 7ft from the SE with a terrible 6-second period and a fresh breeze – junky. Friday the 4th is big again – 10ft from the SE, 8-second period, strong offshore wind at 45 km/h. Clean but hard to paddle into. Energy is 1765 – strong. More of a kite session than a paddle one. The afternoon is 8ft with a fresh offshore.
The second week is quieter. Saturday the 5th morning has small 3ft SSW swell, clean, light winds. The afternoon builds to 5ft from the SE, 9 seconds, clean and fun. Sunday the 6th dawns glassy with 2ft from the SW, 18-second period – super long period, real power for its size. A longboard dream.
Things go flat and messy for a few days. Monday the 7th through Thursday the 10th is mostly under 2ft with strong or onshore winds – not worth it. Friday the 11th brings some life: 3ft in the morning from the SW, 16-second period, light cross-onshore, and 4ft in the afternoon from the SW, 15-second period. Both marginal.
Then Saturday the 12th. Morning is glassy with 4ft SW swell, 14-second period, energy moderate (535). The afternoon is the gem: 5ft of SW swell, 14-second period, absolutely glassy, energy at 1066 – moderate to strong. That’s a brilliant session for intermediates and above. Your two standouts: Wednesday September 2nd morning for the big-wave crew, and Saturday September 12th afternoon for a clean, medium-sized day. Crowds are possible at Strand (Pipe) – it’s sometimes busy, so get in early.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSE by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSE 8 | SW 12 | SSE 6 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
175 | 136 | 186 | 217 | 286 | 718 | 503 | 396 | 380 | 308 | 403 | 1030 | 1198 | 2313 | 3522 | 1811 | 898 | 388 | 505 | 1011 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:33PM1.61m | 3:44AM1.52m | 4:01PM1.65m | 4:15AM1.52m | 4:31PM1.65m | 4:47AM1.49m | 5:02PM1.62m | 5:21AM1.43m | 5:37PM1.54m | 6:00AM1.33m | 6:17PM1.43m | 6:46AM1.21m | 7:09PM1.29m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:44PM0.11m | 9:49AM0.06m | 10:14PM0.07m | 10:18AM0.07m | 10:44PM0.08m | 10:48AM0.11m | 11:18PM0.12m | 11:21AM0.18m | 11:54PM0.19m | 11:58AM0.28m | 00:38AM0.30m | 12:45PM0.40m | 1:37AM0.43m | |||||||
— | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 8 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 9 |
175 | 102 | 186 | 164 | 256 | 718 | 503 | 396 | 380 | 308 | 403 | 1030 | 1198 | 2313 | 3522 | 1811 | 772 | 330 | 209 | 375 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 14 | — | — | SSW 18 | — | — | — | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
155 | 136 | 119 | 61 | 286 | 11 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 145 | — | — | 753 | — | — | — | 146 | 44 | 38 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | S 13 | SSE 13 | — | SSE 11 | — | — | SSE 10 | — | — | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
62 | 84 | 68 | — | 22 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | 107 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 10 | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 |
— | — | — | 217 | — | — | 34 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 143 | 254 | 898 | 388 | 505 | 1011 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 302 | 25 | 302 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 364 | 363 | 873 | 2777 | 231 |
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.











