Strand (Pipe) Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.12° S 18.83° E

Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Strand (Pipe) sea temperature is
14.5°C
1.1° 

Strand (Pipe) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Strand (Pipe) surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 2,144 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 1.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Mon 31st Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 11s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 1st Sep)6ft (1.8m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sun 6th Sep)6ft (1.9m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strand (Pipe) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break down what’s headed toward Strand (Pipe) for the next couple of weeks. It’s a beach-and-reef setup that’s exposed to the swell and likes it coming from the southwest. Water temp is around 58°F, which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year – about 2°F off, so you’ll want a good wetsuit.

We’ve got a slow start. The first few days are small and crossed-up – not worth your time. But hold tight, because things fire up on Tuesday, September 1st.

That Tuesday morning is the standout. Swell hits 6ft from the SSW with a long 14-second period, packing a solid punch (1291 combined energy). Best of all – it’s glassy. Dead calm. That’s going to be clean as a whistle and the pick of the whole forecast. This is for experienced surfers only. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 7ft, but the wind turns cross-onshore, so the morning is the window.

Wednesday the 2nd keeps that same swell going – around 6-6ft from the SW, 13-second period – but the wind stays cross-shore, making it a little lumpy. Still rideable for intermediates.

Thursday the 3rd brings a change. Swell drops to 5ft, period shortens to 9 seconds, and there’s light rain. The morning is cross-off and clean, but the afternoon gets nasty – a solid 10ft from the SSE with a fresh 22 mph breeze. That’s expert-only and messy. Friday the 4th is more of the same: big, windy, blown-out. 8-10ft with short period and strong cross-off wind. Not fun.

Saturday the 5th is weird. Morning has 7ft of short-period SE windswell with offshore wind, but only 7 seconds of period (487 energy), so it’s weak and crumbly. Then the afternoon drops to 2ft but with a ridiculous 23-second groundswell from the SSW (910 energy). That’s a very long period – at a beach-and-reef break, it might run too straight, but the energy is there. Clean conditions, but tiny.

Sunday the 6th is another offshore day with 5ft from the SSW at 16 seconds – long-period, energy-packed (1349). Fresh offshore wind keeps it clean, but that period might make it a bit straight at Strand.

Monday the 7th is a sleeper. Swell is only 4ft from the S, 12-second period, but both morning and afternoon are glassy or near calm. Clean, fun waves, not a big swell but quality.

From Tuesday the 8th onward, it gets quiet. Swell drops below 3ft through mid-month, with some glassy mornings but very small – 1ft to 3ft. There’s a little bump up to 3ft around Saturday the 12th with clean conditions, so small-wave gear is the call.

By the 13th and 14th of September, the wind turns ugly – fresh cross-shore and cross-onshore, lumpy and choppy, with swell around 5-7ft but poor quality. Monday the 15th has a brief window of glassy 5ft from the S, but it’s short-period and nothing special.

The one to circle is Tuesday morning, September 1st – that 6ft SSW groundswell with glassy conditions is the real deal. Monday the 7th is a solid backup for clean, smaller waves. The rest is either too big and windy or too small and weak.

– Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds.

Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
4
3
4
3
3
4
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SW
11
1.2
SW
11
1.7
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
14
2.2
SSW
14
2.2
SW
14
1.9
SW
13
1.8
SW
13
1.6
SW
13
1.6
S
9
3
SSE
9
2.5
SE
9
2.5
SSE
9
3
SE
8
2.4
SE
7
2.2
SE
7
0.7
SSW
23
1.7
SSW
18
1.4
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
380
354
756
1291
1722
1697
1299
1083
791
417
1670
996
1126
1001
535
437
471
2025
957
522
475
Wind (km/h)
15
S
15
SSW
5
SE
0
W
10
SW
10
ESE
10
S
10
S
15
NNE
15
SSE
35
SE
35
SE
35
ESE
35
ESE
25
ESE
30
ESE
35
SE
30
ESE
35
ESE
35
ESE
20
E
Wind State
cross
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-on
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
High Tide
5:02PM1.62m
5:21AM1.43m
5:37PM1.54m
6:00AM1.33m
6:17PM1.43m
6:46AM1.21m
7:09PM1.29m
7:53AM1.09m
8:29PM1.16m
9:45AM1.04m
10:28PM1.13m
11:39AM1.12m
00:05AM1.21m
Low Tide
10:48AM0.11m
11:18PM0.12m
11:21AM0.18m
11:54PM0.19m
11:58AM0.28m
00:38AM0.30m
12:45PM0.40m
1:37AM0.43m
1:53PM0.54m
3:13AM0.52m
3:57PM0.60m
5:15AM0.49m
5:55PM0.51m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:05
7:03
7:01
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:24
6:25
6:25
6:27
6:28
6:28
6:29
 mm
1
6
Temp °C
13
15
11
15
16
12
17
18
14
15
14
14
17
19
14
17
19
15
15
16
12
Feels °C
9
12
9
15
15
11
15
15
13
12
7
7
10
11
9
12
13
10
9
9
5
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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