Surf Forecasts:
Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 14s period, SSW swell with 2,099 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Strand (Pipe) in the next 16 days are 2.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 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 shaking out at Strand (Pipe) over the next couple of weeks.
The pattern is a bit of a slow burn, with a few windows of clean surf, but nothing you’d paddle out of bed for until the very end of the period. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
We start off Wednesday the 19th with a 6ft SSW swell at 12 seconds, but the cross-shore wind is messing the surface up. It’s marginal. Thursday the 20th lifts a bit with 8ft from the SSW in the morning, though still cross-shore and not clean. Afternoon improves with a 7ft SSW swell and a cross-offshore SSE breeze, making it cleaner. Friday the 21st is when it gets a little better; morning has 5ft SSW swell with a light cross-off wind, and the afternoon turns glassy with 4ft SSW swell. That afternoon is the best of the first week, but the swell is small.
Saturday the 22nd is a right-off with a messy cross-shore and poor surf. Sunday the 23rd through to Tuesday the 25th is a mix of 3ft to 5ft swells from the SW, but the wind is cross-shore or cross-off, and the energy is moderate (between 443 and 898). It’s not terrible, but it’s not firing. The real standout in the second week is a long-range call: Saturday the 29th. The afternoon sees a 10ft SSW groundswell (14 seconds) with a clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy jumps to 3133, which is strong. This is a big one, but it’s over 8ft, so it’s for experts only. The swell direction is from the SSW, which is close to optimum for this spot (SW). Crowds are possible here, so expect company.
The final day, Thursday the 3rd of September, is a massive outlier: 20ft WSW swell at 14 seconds. The energy is huge (18536), but it’s predicted to be too big for the break. That’s a skip for most.
The gaps? There’s a stretch from Saturday the 22nd to Monday the 24th where the surf is mostly poor or marginal, and then from Tuesday the 1st of September to Wednesday the 2nd it’s poor again. The best bet is that Friday the 21st afternoon glassy session, or for the brave, the Saturday the 29th afternoon big-wave clean-up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1073 | 808 | 718 | 953 | 1807 | 1211 | 802 | 534 | 334 | 404 | 242 | 510 | 1413 | 860 | 335 | 521 | 334 | 316 | 752 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:09AM1.11m | 7:26PM1.17m | 8:02AM1.00m | 8:28PM1.05m | 9:45AM0.92m | 10:24PM0.99m | 11:56AM0.97m | 00:08AM1.05m | 1:00PM1.08m | 1:03AM1.15m | 1:38PM1.20m | 1:41AM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:06AM0.43m | 1:03PM0.51m | 1:52AM0.55m | 1:53PM0.63m | 3:15AM0.64m | 3:47PM0.72m | 5:34AM0.63m | 6:08PM0.67m | 6:48AM0.53m | 7:08PM0.57m | 7:29AM0.42m | 7:46PM0.46m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | 6:15 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 1073 | 808 | 718 | 953 | 1807 | 1211 | 802 | 534 | 317 | 404 | 242 | 510 | 1413 | 860 | 308 | 521 | 334 | 316 | 752 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 6 | NNW 3 | — | — | WSW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 401 | 334 | 340 | 73 | 1 | — | — | 335 | 51 | 36 | 105 | 113 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SW 14 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 125 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 73 | 194 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | SSE 5 | — | N 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 3 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 42 | 39 | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 39 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 |
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.
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