Surf Forecasts:
Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 1,327 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 16s. 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strand (Pipe) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.
First up, we’ve got Strand (Pipe). This is your local sub-region here, just a beach and reef setup that’s fairly consistent. We’re starting on Thursday the 13th of August. Water’s sitting at about 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a good wetsuit. The standout window here kicks off Thursday morning. We’ve got a 5ft SW swell rolling in with a very long period of 18 seconds, and combined energy is pumping at 1418 (moderate wave energy). That’s a groundswell, and with that period, it’s going to have some real power—better for a point or reef setup, but at Strand (Pipe) it should still offer some solid, clean lines. Wind is light, cross-offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, so things are looking clean. This is definitely for experienced surfers though; that size and period will be a handful.
Thursday afternoon the swell drops a touch to 4.3ft SW, period still long at 16 seconds, but the wind goes cross-shore and the energy dips to 978. It’s marginal, with tide issues likely. Not the top pick.
Friday the 14th, we see a drop. Swell down to 3ft, wind picking up from the N at 12 mph, cross and choppy. Poor conditions. Saturday morning the 15th looks interesting—3ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, but the wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a combined energy of 271 (weak to moderate). It’ll be small but clean, with some decent shape for the longboard or a fun mid-length. That glassy wind is a major positive.
Sunday the 16th is a write-off—cross-onshore winds, messy. Monday the 17th is marginal, with light cross-shore winds and small swell around 4.3ft.
Now, the next real standout comes in on the morning of Saturday the 22nd of August. This is a week and a bit out, so it’s promising but less certain. We’ve got a 5ft SSW swell, period a very long 16 seconds, and combined energy is through the roof at 1543 (moderate to strong wave energy). Winds are light cross-off from the ESE at 6 mph, so it should be clean. Another one for experienced surfers—that size and period will pack a punch. The afternoon of the 22nd sees the swell bump up to 5.6ft, but wind picks up to 16 mph, which makes it a bit more marginal.
Sunday the 23rd still has decent 4.6ft SW swell with offshore ESE winds at 16 mph—clean but a bit windy. Monday the 24th drops back to small 2.6ft fun waves, with light offshore winds, good for a relaxed session.
From the 25th onward, it gets poor again—onshore winds, small chop, not worth paddling out for.
Overall, the best session on offer is Thursday morning the 13th, clean, punchy, and powerful. The second standout is Saturday the 22nd morning, which looks solid if the forecast holds. Everything else is either small, windy, or marginal. There’s a long gap of nothing worthwhile from the 25th right through to the end of the month.
Stay safe out there.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1327 | 943 | 611 | 360 | 355 | 308 | 264 | 257 | 328 | 372 | 503 | 840 | 581 | 569 | 488 | 430 | 367 | 1229 | 592 | 360 | 198 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 3:53PM1.70m | 4:08AM1.58m | 4:29PM1.71m | 4:45AM1.53m | 5:04PM1.66m | 5:21AM1.45m | 5:38PM1.57m | 5:55AM1.34m | 6:12PM1.45m | 6:30AM1.23m | 6:46PM1.31m | 7:09AM1.11m | 7:26PM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:40AM-0.02m | 10:08PM0.02m | 10:16AM-0.01m | 10:46PM0.04m | 10:51AM0.05m | 11:22PM0.10m | 11:24AM0.14m | 11:56PM0.19m | 11:56AM0.25m | 00:30AM0.31m | 12:28PM0.38m | 1:06AM0.43m | 1:03PM0.51m | 1:52AM0.55m | |||||||
7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
— | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 26 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 21 | 24 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 |
1327 | 943 | 611 | 360 | 355 | 308 | 264 | 257 | 328 | 372 | 503 | 840 | 581 | 569 | 488 | 430 | 367 | 1229 | 439 | 360 | 198 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | W 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 7 | SSE 4 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | — | — |
89 | 35 | 35 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 218 | 256 | 236 | 331 | 592 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | — | — | — | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 9 | 10 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 3 | WNW 4 | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | W 4 | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | SSW 11 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 |
— | — | — | 3 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 16 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 698 | 67 | 105 | 215 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 68 | 6 | 47 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











