Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 4,709 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tubes this week:
The surf forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tubes in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got one spot on the menu for the next 16 days, and it’s a good one.
We’re looking at Tubes, a reef and point set-up that’s got a consistent run of solid, clean swell coming our way. The water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.
The action kicks off on Sunday, August 23rd. The morning has a clean 8ft swell from the SW with an 11-second period, and the wind is light and cross-off. It’s already looking good. The combined wave energy is pumping at 1514 (moderate to strong), so you’ll feel the push. Sunday afternoon stays similar, just a touch smaller at 8ft, but still very clean.
Monday, August 24th is a beauty. The morning drops to 7ft, but the wind goes offshore from the SW, and the period stretches to 12 seconds. That’s groundswell, folks. The energy is still strong at 1099. The afternoon is even better with a gentle offshore breeze and 6ft waves. Just perfect.
Tuesday, August 25th is where it gets serious. The morning brings a 10ft SW swell with a 14-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell with a combined energy of 3325. This is serious wave energy. The wind is offshore and clean. This is for experienced surfers only – over 8ft and powerful. If you’re not ready for it, stay on the beach.
Then we hit a rough patch. From Wednesday, August 26th through to Saturday, August 29th, the wind turns onshore or cross-shore, and the quality drops. There’s still swell in the water, but it’s lumpy, choppy, and messy. Not worth paddling out for. There’s a brief window on Friday afternoon, August 28th, where it goes glassy with a 4ft S swell, but it’s weak and inconsistent. A day to save your energy.
Sunday, August 30th is a comeback. A 10ft swell from the WSW is back, but the period is short at 8 seconds. It’s still clean with a moderate offshore wind, and the energy is solid at 1411. It’s a windy, powerful day, but it’s clean.
The next week is all about size and power. Monday, August 31st is a good, manageable day with 5ft and clean conditions. But Tuesday, September 1st and Wednesday, September 2nd are the real standouts. Tuesday morning has a 10ft SW swell with a 13-second period, light offshore wind, and a combined energy of 2909. Wednesday afternoon peaks with an 12ft SW swell, 14-second period, and a massive 4608 energy reading. Both days are for experienced surfers only, with clean, offshore winds. This is the best on offer.
Thursday, September 3rd gets a bit messy with cross-shore winds, but the swell is still huge at 15ft in the afternoon. The energy is off the charts at 7024. That’s borderline dangerous, and the wind is cross-off, so it might be clean but it’s a beast. Only for the bravest.
Friday, September 4th sees a return to clean, offshore conditions with an 12ft SW swell. A solid, expert-level day.
The final weekend, Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th, gets hammered by onshore winds again, making the big swell (12ft to 8ft) messy and choppy. Not worth it for paddle surfing, but if you’re into kites, the setup could be interesting.
The absolute standout is Tuesday, September 1st and Wednesday, September 2nd. Big, clean, long-period SW groundswell with offshore winds. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. Remember, Tubes is a reef and point, so that long-period swell will be lining up nicely. Crowds are possible – it’s consistent and it’s a good spot, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 36°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the E by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
861 | 1514 | 1242 | 1545 | 1094 | 897 | 1852 | 3325 | 2305 | 2173 | 3520 | 4709 | 1869 | 1252 | 553 | 535 | 483 | 403 | 277 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:52AM1.07m | 1:40PM1.10m | 1:44AM1.20m | 2:15PM1.24m | 2:18AM1.33m | 2:43PM1.39m | 2:47AM1.44m | 3:10PM1.52m | 3:15AM1.54m | 3:36PM1.63m | 3:42AM1.60m | 4:02PM1.72m | 4:10AM1.64m | ||||||
Low Tide | 7:28AM0.60m | 7:41PM0.62m | 8:04AM0.46m | 8:16PM0.49m | 8:32AM0.33m | 8:46PM0.36m | 8:58AM0.21m | 9:14PM0.25m | 9:23AM0.11m | 9:41PM0.15m | 9:49AM0.04m | 10:09PM0.09m | |||||||
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
5:53 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 29 | 36 | 32 |
Feels °C | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 18 | 26 | 21 | 27 | 32 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
400 | 1514 | 1242 | 1545 | 1094 | 897 | 1852 | 3325 | 2305 | 2173 | 3520 | 4709 | 1869 | 1252 | 553 | 913 | 484 | 314 | 266 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | SW 14 | E 10 | SE 11 | SSW 15 | ESE 11 | E 10 | SSW 16 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | S 16 | — | SW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 |
1 | 1 | 284 | 2 | 5 | 411 | 11 | 2 | 848 | 836 | 504 | 69 | 132 | — | 463 | 535 | 483 | 403 | 220 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | — | E 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | — | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | SW 12 | S 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 |
— | — | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | 5 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 113 | 195 | 100 | 81 | 277 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | E 5 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | — | — | W 4 | ENE 3 |
861 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 102 | 587 | 697 | 881 | — | — | 10 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 198 | 560 | 172 | 142 | 140 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 52 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Tubes Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tubes provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tubes can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tubes 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 (Tubes) 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 Tubes 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.
Tubes is 19 km (12 miles) from the city of Kruisfontein. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Kruisfontein. Kruisfontein has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











