Surf Forecasts:
Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 4,272 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strand (Pipe) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, giving you the lowdown on the surf coming our way for the next coupla weeks. Let’s get into it.
We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards, but the opening is a bit shaky. The first few days are pretty average, with a messy Saturday and Sunday that’s best spent doing something else. It’s not until Monday the 19th of July that we start to see the quality creep up, but the real standout is shaping up for Tuesday the 21st of July.
The whole period is about Strand (Pipe), a beach and reef set-up that’s exposed to the south-west swell. The water temperature is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real moment of magic looks like Tuesday the 21st of July morning. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell rolling in from the SSW with a very long 14-second period. That’s some proper groundswell, packing a strong 1099 (combined energy) – you’ll feel the power. The wind is glassy, dead calm, making for absolutely perfect conditions. This is the one to circle, but that long period will mean it’s a bit more lined up and better for the reef sections than just a random peak. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so it’s more for the experienced surfers.
Then, hold onto your boards, because Friday the 24th of July morning is another belter. The swell jumps to 8ft from the SSW with a 15-second period (2261 – that’s some serious energy), and it’s glassy again. Again, this is expert territory. It’s a big, powerful swell that’ll be a sight to see.
The run continues with Saturday the 25th of July morning offering a clean 6ft from the SSW with offshore cross-off winds, making for a really fun day that’s a little more manageable. Sunday the 26th of July morning is flat calm and glassy with a smaller 4ft swell, perfect for a longer board or a mellow session.
Looking further out, the Tuesday the 28th of July morning is another big one – 6ft, 15-second period, glassy, and a massive 2148 energy. Promise is there, but it’s a long way off.
By the end of the run, Sunday the 2nd of August is looking like a clean, glassy winner with a 6ft, 17-second period groundswell (2218 energy). That’s a long-range promise, so keep an eye on it.
In short, the first couple of days are a write-off. The real action starts Tuesday the 21st of July, with Friday the 24th of July being the other absolute standout. The rest of the period is filled with solid, clean surf, but those two mornings are the ones you want to be in the water for.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 162 | 319 | 309 | 432 | 442 | 276 | 117 | 256 | 1053 | 1222 | 791 | 479 | 503 | 492 | 398 | 804 | 4014 | 2261 | 1772 | 1496 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:18PM1.54m | 6:36AM1.30m | 7:00PM1.44m | 7:20AM1.18m | 7:44PM1.32m | 8:12AM1.08m | 8:35PM1.21m | 9:19AM1.01m | 9:42PM1.12m | 10:47AM0.98m | 11:05PM1.09m | 12:12PM1.02m | 00:20AM1.12m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM0.25m | 12:38PM0.27m | 1:23AM0.34m | 1:19PM0.39m | 2:13AM0.44m | 2:06PM0.51m | 3:13AM0.52m | 3:11PM0.61m | 4:33AM0.56m | 4:45PM0.65m | 5:58AM0.54m | 6:16PM0.62m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — |
 | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 138 | 319 | 309 | 432 | 442 | 276 | 117 | 256 | 1053 | 1222 | 791 | 479 | 503 | 492 | 398 | 357 | 4014 | 2261 | 1772 | 1496 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 7 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SSW 19 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 116 | 102 | 54 | 33 | 18 | 8 | 81 | 47 | 21 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 804 | 22 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | W 11 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 18 | SW 12 | W 9 | W 9 | — | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 11 | S 21 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 162 | 151 | 75 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 68 | 25 | 14 | — | 9 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 20 | 19 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 189 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 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.
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