
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 11s period, S swell with 8,149 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 10s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, and I've been staring at the charts for your local stretch. We've got a solid run of surf coming up, but it's a story of two halves. The first week is a proper standout, with some serious groundswell and clean conditions. The second week is a bit more of a lottery, with a big, messy pulse that's tricky to read.
Let's kick things off. The water is sitting at a chilly 62°, which is a full 4° colder than usual for this time of year. You're going to want a thicker wetsuit, no doubt about it.
The real action starts on Tuesday afternoon at Tubes. It's a reef and point break that's sheltered and consistent. The morning is a write-off with a cross-on wind, but by the afternoon, the wind swings to a light offshore from the SW, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the SW. The period is a solid 11 seconds, giving it some nice grunt and shape. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate (826). This is a solid start, but the best is yet to come.
Wednesday afternoon is where things get exciting. The swell jumps to 6ft from the SW, with a groundswell period of 16 seconds. That's a very long period, which means the waves at Tubes are going to be well-shaped, powerful, and have those long, satisfying lulls between sets. The wind is a gentle offshore from the SW, making for clean, lined-up waves. Combined energy here is strong (1551). This is a top pick.
Now, for the experts only. Thursday the 6th of August is absolutely firing. Both morning and afternoon see a massive 10ft to 12ft SW swell, with a 13-second period. The wind is offshore and light. The combined energy is very strong (4228 and 3264). This is serious, powerful groundswell, and it's going to be too big for beginners. For the experienced crew, this is the standout of the entire forecast. The waves are going to be deep, hollow, and demanding.
Friday the 7th of August continues the rampage with 8ft to 10ft SW swell, again with offshore winds and a 13-14 second period. The energy is very strong (2166 and 3325). Another day for the big dogs.
Saturday the 8th of August is still pumping. The swell is 8ft to 8ft from the SW, with a 14-second period and offshore winds. The energy remains very strong (2686 and 2073). This is a world-class run of swell.
Sunday the 9th of August gets messy. The wind is howling from the WSW at 25 mph in the morning, making it a write-off, and while the afternoon offshore is strong, the whole day is rated as marginal. By Monday the 10th of August, the swell direction swings to the SSE, and the period drops to 11 seconds. The size is huge at 16ft to 18ft, and the energy is extreme (8361 and 5600), but the wind is cross-off, and the quality is questionable. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, honestly.
There is a gap of a few days after that with no real quality recommendations. The swell is all over the place, with onshore winds and poor conditions.
A promising but less certain window appears on Friday the 14th of August. The morning at Tubes looks glassy, with a 6ft SW swell and a 14-second period. The combined energy is moderate (1163). This is a nice, clean option if the long-range forecast holds.
Saturday the 15th of August is a solid bet. The swell is 5ft from the SW with a 12-second period, and the wind is offshore all day. The energy is moderate (599 and 540). Clean, fun waves without the crowd. This is a good one.
Sunday the 16th of August morning is a beauty. The wind is dead calm, glassy, with a 4ft SW swell. The waves will be clean and perfect for a longboard. The afternoon is a bust, though, with a moderate cross-onshore.
Monday the 17th of August sees a new pulse of 10ft SW swell, but with a shorter 11-second period. The combined energy is very strong (1871 and 1363), and the wind is light and cross-off, so it should be clean. This is a late-season standout to keep an eye on, but it's two weeks out, so a bit of a gamble.
Tuesday the 18th of August afternoon is a winner. The wind goes offshore from the SW, and the swell is a solid 8ft with a 12-second period. The energy is strong (1565).
Wednesday the 19th of August afternoon looks glassy with a 8ft SSW swell and a 12-second period. The energy is strong (1403). A nice way to wrap up the forecast period.
Alright, that's the picture. The first week is a guaranteed classic for the experts, with Wednesday the 5th of August offering a solid day for the intermediates. The second week is a mixed bag, but there are a few gems if you're patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, strong winds from the S by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
570 | 471 | 303 | 372 | 1412 | 1863 | 4228 | 3264 | 2183 | 2166 | 3325 | 4394 | 2686 | 2073 | 3061 | 2968 | 2419 | 6367 | 6572 | 5600 | 1430 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 7:06PM1.52m | 7:22AM1.28m | 7:53PM1.41m | 8:17AM1.16m | 8:59PM1.29m | 9:50AM1.06m | 10:46PM1.22m | 11:59AM1.09m | 00:33AM1.28m | 1:24PM1.24m | 1:44AM1.41m | 2:20PM1.42m | 2:35AM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:44PM0.24m | 1:24AM0.35m | 1:25PM0.35m | 2:18AM0.45m | 2:21PM0.48m | 3:39AM0.54m | 3:54PM0.59m | 5:36AM0.55m | 6:00PM0.57m | 7:09AM0.43m | 7:29PM0.44m | 8:08AM0.28m | 8:27PM0.28m | ||||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 26 | 29 | 20 | 26 | 29 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 22 | 25 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | E 10 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | — | S 10 |
459 | 342 | 294 | 284 | 1412 | 1863 | 4228 | 3264 | 2183 | 2166 | 3325 | 4394 | 2686 | 2073 | 3061 | 2968 | 68 | 2547 | 1789 | — | 1430 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | WSW 12 | E 9 | — | SE 12 |
570 | 471 | 303 | 372 | 231 | 148 | 115 | 90 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 42 | 43 | 43 | 44 | 69 | 94 | 1744 | 61 | — | 52 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 11 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | — | E 10 | — | — | SE 12 |
3 | 13 | 99 | 220 | 139 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 46 | — | — | 120 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2419 | 6367 | 6572 | 5600 | 1080 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 2171 | 2148 | 643 | 183 | 142 |
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.











