
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, SW swell with 3,196 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with ESE 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tubes in the next 16 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Tubes has got cookin' for us over the next couple of weeks.
This is a bit of a slow burner. We're looking at a solid run of quality groundswell, but you've gotta be patient, 'cause the first few days are pretty ordinary. The water temp at Tubes is sittin' at 64°, which is feelin' a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want that hood or at least a decent steamer.
Right now, Sunday the 12th is a write-off. The 5ft SSW swell is there, but that 12 mph cross-on easterly is just gonna chop it to bits. You're lookin' at poor surf and weak energy (894). Monday the 13th isn't much better with a small 4ft and 4ft SSW swell and onshore or cross-shore breezes. Not worth paddlin' out.
Things start to turn on Tuesday the 14th. We've got a glassy morning with a 5ft ESE swell. The energy is still moderate (545) and the period's only 9 seconds, but when it's glassy like that, you can get some fun ones. Not a standout, just a sign of life.
Wednesday the 15th is small and underwhelming. Thursday the 16th morning though? That's where we get a proper pulse. The swell jumps to 10ft from the SW at 14 seconds – that's proper groundswell energy (2842). The wind is glassy, making for excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is a serious session for the crew who know what they're doin'. The afternoon stays solid at 8ft and clean.
Friday the 17th keeps the juice flowin' with 10ft in the morning, but the wind picks up a bit. The afternoon goes glassy again with an 8ft SW swell. Energy is strong (1886). This is a good day, but not quite the top pick.
Saturday the 18th is a write-off again with strong onshore winds. Gotta sit that one out.
Now, the standout of the whole run looks to be Tuesday the 22nd of July. We've got a huge 10ft SSW groundswell pumpin' through with a 14-second period. The combined energy is a massive 3869 in the morning and 3183 in the afternoon. The wind goes glassy early and cross-off in the arvo, plus the water anomaly is a bit colder than normal but that won't matter when you're droppin' into bombs. This is expert territory at that size. Tubes loves that direction too SSW is bang on what it needs. If you can handle the juice, this is the day.
Wednesday the 23rd is also a cracker, with excellent conditions all day and big, clean 7ft to 10ft SW swell. Energy is still very strong (2205 to 2774). The wind is light cross-off, so it'll be clean but not quite glassy.
Saturday the 25th of July, the swell is gettin' into giant territory – 13ft from the SW. The afternoon looks absolutely epic though, with glassy conditions and an energy reading of 6046. If you're a charger, that's your window.
Sunday the 26th is also lookin' unreal with 12ft SSW groundswell, glassy morning and offshore in the afternoon, and energy in the 4000s. Monday the 27th sees the energy start to drop, but it's still a fun, clean 6ft with offshore winds.
So, bottom line: The first few days are a slow grind. The real deal kicks in on Thursday the 16th for the experienced crew, but the crown jewel is Tuesday the 22nd. Massive swell, glassy conditions, and Tubes fire. Just be ready for some serious water moving around. Big crowds are always possible at Tubes, so get there early.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSE 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
631 | 444 | 296 | 265 | 432 | 432 | 60 | 61 | 53 | 145 | 1105 | 2842 | 2254 | 2045 | 2693 | 1886 | 1082 | 284 | 285 | 553 | 466 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:19PM1.39m | 2:36AM1.57m | 3:09PM1.52m | 3:25AM1.64m | 3:55PM1.63m | 4:10AM1.67m | 4:39PM1.70m | 4:52AM1.65m | 5:20PM1.72m | 5:32AM1.59m | 6:00PM1.69m | 6:10AM1.50m | 6:39PM1.62m | 6:48AM1.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:21PM0.28m | 8:58AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.18m | 9:43AM0.05m | 10:03PM0.12m | 10:25AM0.01m | 10:48PM0.10m | 11:04AM0.00m | 11:31PM0.12m | 11:41AM0.04m | 00:12AM0.19m | 12:17PM0.12m | 00:52AM0.28m | 12:52PM0.23m | |||||||
— | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | |
5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | 5:30 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 21 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | E 10 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | E 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
631 | 444 | 355 | 386 | 432 | 432 | 380 | 281 | 202 | 173 | 745 | 2842 | 2254 | 138 | 2693 | 1886 | 1082 | 284 | 128 | 553 | 466 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 10 | E 10 | S 13 | S 10 | SW 10 | E 8 | E 9 |
11 | 10 | 296 | 265 | 130 | 86 | 60 | 61 | 53 | 89 | 1105 | 159 | 165 | — | 104 | 98 | 125 | 254 | 222 | 230 | 184 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 17 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | SSE 11 | SSE 13 | S 10 | SSE 12 |
10 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 45 | 27 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 145 | 149 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 164 | 285 | 255 | 235 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | SW 6 | SW 7 | — | — | — | SW 13 | — | — | E 10 | E 6 | — | — | — |
242 | 358 | 491 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 65 | 131 | — | — | — | 2045 | — | — | 245 | 92 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 198 | 140 | 30 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 142 | 140 | 1 | 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.











