
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, SW swell with 1,999 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s 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 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards at Tubes. This is a reef and point setup that fires best when the swell is coming from the SSW. It’s a consistent wave, but the crowd factor is real – you’ll likely have company out there.
The water is sitting at a very unusual 57°, which is a massive 9° colder than what’s normal for this time of year. That’s not just a cool patch, that’s a full-on winter surprise. You’ll want a thick suit.
Right now it’s flat and it’s going to stay that way through Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th. The wind is a nasty easterly cross-on at 18-25 mph and the swell is messy with low energy (2440). Don’t even bother. There’s a gap of a few days of nothing worth paddling out for.
Thursday the 13th morning is a tease. There’s a 4 ft SSW groundswell with a very long 20 second period, and the wind is light onshore. The energy is substantial (2117) but the wind isn’t clean yet. Wait for the tides to do their thing.
Friday the 14th is a write-off. Cross-on wind and weak energy. Saturday the 15th morning though – this is where it starts to get interesting. Glassy conditions, a 4 ft SSW swell, and the energy (548) is moderate. It’ll be small but clean. The standout of this opening week is Monday the 17th. We’ve got a 6 ft to 6 ft SW groundswell, dead glassy in the morning and then clean offshore wind in the afternoon. The energy is strong (1113-1279) and the conditions are going to be very good. This is the one to circle.
Then on Tuesday the 18th afternoon, we see a jump to 10 ft from the SW with a moderate offshore wind and very strong energy (2879). This is excellent for experienced surfers – it’s a big, powerful wave for those who know what they’re doing. Wednesday the 19th holds similar size but with a fresher offshore wind, so it stays clean but big. That run of quality big swell lasts through Saturday the 22nd morning when we see a 12 ft to 13 ft SW groundswell with very long 16 second periods and offshore wind. The energy is insane (7514). This is not for the faint of heart, and only experts should be looking at this.
The final standout is a bit further out. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th mornings both see glassy conditions with 5 ft to 6 ft SW groundswell, clean and inviting. Then Wednesday the 26th morning caps it off with glassy 7 ft SW swell and strong energy (1594) – again, very good conditions.
If you’re looking for the best on offer, it has to be Monday the 17th for the perfect combo of clean, manageable size and good energy. The second standout is Tuesday the 18th afternoon for the big-wave crew, but that’s only for experts. For the second week, things look promising but less certain – still, Wednesday the 26th morning looks like a beauty. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 20 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1775 | 1022 | 655 | 712 | 922 | 1294 | 1100 | 1929 | 1225 | 930 | 842 | 746 | 532 | 525 | 501 | 444 | 472 | 538 | 1094 | 1269 | 918 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:04PM1.59m | 3:18AM1.63m | 3:44PM1.72m | 3:57AM1.68m | 4:20PM1.79m | 4:32AM1.68m | 4:55PM1.81m | 5:06AM1.63m | 5:28PM1.77m | 5:38AM1.56m | 5:59PM1.67m | 6:09AM1.45m | 6:29PM1.54m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:52AM0.14m | 9:13PM0.15m | 9:31AM0.03m | 9:54PM0.07m | 10:06AM-0.03m | 10:32PM0.03m | 10:40AM-0.04m | 11:06PM0.05m | 11:11AM-0.00m | 11:39PM0.11m | 11:41AM0.08m | 00:10AM0.20m | 12:11PM0.20m | 00:40AM0.32m | |||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 23 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 14 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SW 13 | E 11 | WSW 13 | E 11 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 |
1775 | 1022 | 500 | 372 | 922 | 1294 | 1001 | 1929 | 1225 | 401 | 305 | 347 | 239 | 525 | 394 | 444 | 335 | 538 | 1094 | 1269 | 918 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 24 | SSW 21 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 20 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 8 | SW 13 | E 11 | WSW 13 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 |
— | — | 144 | 712 | 237 | 103 | 1100 | 7 | 2 | 930 | 842 | 746 | 532 | 204 | 501 | 292 | 472 | 277 | 282 | 224 | 165 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 10 | — | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | — | S 11 | — | — | — | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 6 | S 10 | S 10 | WSW 5 | SW 6 | — | — |
— | — | 8 | — | 55 | 31 | 16 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 16 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 19 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | ENE 11 | WSW 3 | WSW 5 | — | — | E 4 | WSW 5 |
665 | 824 | 655 | 531 | 792 | 1030 | 697 | 624 | 816 | 682 | 493 | — | — | — | 724 | 9 | 42 | — | — | 10 | 62 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 198 | 562 | 198 | 198 | 198 | 140 | 180 | 172 | 140 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 1 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.











