Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 10s period, SW swell with 7,423 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s 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 30) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tubes in the next 16 days are 6.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 20ft (6.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Tubes. This is a reef and point setup, and it’s got some serious potential over the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting at 59°F and that’s a staggering 7°F colder than normal for this time of year – you’re gonna want the thickest wetsuit you’ve got.
We start off on Sunday, August 30th, with a solid 8ft SW swell ticking in at 10 seconds. The combined energy is a hefty 1336, so there’s plenty of push. It’s a bit cloudy with a 12 mph cross-offshore wind, which will keep things reasonably clean, but the conditions aren’t quite perfect.
Things really start to lock in on Sunday afternoon though. The wind swings to a clean offshore at 9 mph, the swell holds at 7ft, and the forecast is for very good surf. This is where the window opens.
Monday, August 31st, stays clean with a light cross-offshore breeze. The swell drops slightly to 6ft-6ft, but it’s still a fun SW groundswell with a long 12-second period. The energy is moderate at 985-829.
The standout is shaping up to be Tuesday, September 1st. The morning has 8ft of SW swell and light winds. Then Tuesday afternoon hits with an excellent 8ft SW swell at a very long 13-second period, blowing straight offshore. The energy jumps to 2088, and this is the kind of session that will have you calling in sick. The wave quality for experienced surfers is top-notch, and with that long period, the reefs and points will be reeling off some beautiful lines. Just know that at this size, it’s a bit much for beginners.
Wednesday, September 2nd, brings a jump in size. We’re looking at a solid 10ft SW swell, but the wind switches to a moderate cross-shore. It’s still clean in the morning, but the afternoon kicks up a cross-chop with 16 mph winds and the energy is through the roof at 2917. At this size and with that cross-wind, the ocean is going to be a bit of a mess.
The swell peaks on Thursday, September 3rd, with a massive 16ft SSW swell in the afternoon. That’s a 5705 energy reading – this is big, heavy water for experts only. The wind goes offshore, but with light rain, it’s not the cleanest power. Earlier in the day, the 10ft WSW swell also has some decent moments.
Then we hit a rough patch. From Friday, September 4th, through Tuesday, September 8th, the winds go onshore or cross-onshore and the surf quality gets poor. There’s a bit of a reset on Tuesday morning with clean winds, but the swell is tiny at 3ft.
The 10th of September shows a glimmer of hope with a clean SSW wind at 3-6 mph and a 3ft to 4ft SW groundswell. Good, clean surf for the patient surfer.
The long-range window shows some potential again. Thursday, September 14th, closes the 16-day period with an absolute banger. Monday afternoon brings a 7ft SW swell with an incredibly long 15-second period and clean offshore wind. The energy is a massive 2642, and the forecast says "excellent surf for experienced surfers." That’s a 15-second groundswell hitting the reef right on the money.
In short, the best of the best is Tuesday afternoon, September 1st, for that clean, offshore, 8ft swell. The backup is that promising window on the 14th. We have to paddle through some ugly onshore days to get there, but it’s worth the wait.
Stay wet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the SE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
910 | 784 | 1250 | 974 | 807 | 836 | 1398 | 2088 | 3902 | 3688 | 2917 | 2147 | 3052 | 5184 | 2495 | 968 | 623 | 515 | 305 | 467 | 5163 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:57PM1.78m | 5:08AM1.61m | 5:26PM1.74m | 5:40AM1.54m | 5:58PM1.65m | 6:14AM1.43m | 6:35PM1.52m | 6:53AM1.29m | 7:20PM1.36m | 7:49AM1.14m | 8:32PM1.19m | 9:45AM1.02m | 10:56PM1.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:42AM-0.00m | 11:07PM0.06m | 11:11AM0.04m | 11:38PM0.10m | 11:41AM0.11m | 00:12AM0.19m | 12:15PM0.23m | 00:51AM0.32m | 12:56PM0.38m | 1:44AM0.48m | 1:55PM0.54m | 3:16AM0.61m | 4:00PM0.66m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SE 6 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 |
406 | 784 | 1250 | 974 | 807 | 836 | 1398 | 2088 | 3902 | 3688 | 2917 | 2147 | 10 | 521 | 568 | 968 | 623 | 286 | 305 | 467 | 5163 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | SW 13 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | SE 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | ESE 7 |
121 | 370 | 47 | 106 | 74 | 70 | 64 | 48 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 16 | 14 | 324 | 592 | 415 | 515 | 297 | 275 | 27 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | E 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | S 7 | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | — | ENE 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 12 | S 8 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | WSW 11 |
20 | 73 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | 16 | 319 | 280 | 111 | 165 | 192 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 |
910 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3052 | 5184 | 2495 | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 198 | 140 | 0 | 143 | 352 | 690 | 3155 | 198 | 198 | 595 | 198 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











