
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,143 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 13s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tubes in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Tubes over the next couple of weeks. This is a reef and point break that needs a specific swell angle to really fire, and the next sixteen days are gonna be a mixed bag, with some real magic moments buried in there.
Right off the bat, the first few days are a write-off. We’ve got a solid 8 ft SW groundswell (period of 15 seconds) with a strong 30 km/h cross-onshore wind, and the combined energy is chunky at 2307. All that energy, and it’s just blown-out, lumpy junk. Not worth paddling out for. That run of poor conditions continues right through the end of the week. Nothing to see here.
The outlook starts to turn around Monday the 15th of September. The wind drops right off, and we get clean conditions with a light breeze. The swell has dropped back to a clean 4 ft to 5 ft from the SW with a period of 10-11 seconds. It’s small but clean and rideable—the kind of day where you can get a few fun ones without fighting the current too hard. The combined energy sits around 474 to 524 (moderate), so there is some push, but nothing crazy.
Now here’s the standout. If you are an experienced surfer, you want to circle Wednesday the 16th of September. That afternoon we get a pumping 8 ft SW swell with a 14-second period and clean, cross-off winds. The combined energy jumps to 2696, which is strong. That is proper, powerful groundswell pushing into this sheltered reef. It’s not huge enough to be dangerous, but it’s definitely expert territory. The morning sees 10 ft with lighter winds and clean surfaces too, but it’s bigger and the rating suggests it’s for those who know what they’re doing. That Wednesday is your best bet of the first week.
After that, things get messy again for a few days with strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions from the 18th through the 20th. The swell sticks around, but the wind kills it. You’ll be wasting your time.
The next decent window pops up on Monday the 22nd of September? No, wait. That day has cross-onshore wind and poor conditions. The real next highlight is Wednesday the 23rd of September. The afternoon session there is a beauty: a 6 ft SW swell with a proper offshore wind from the SW. Clean, glassy face, and the combined energy is 1540 (solid moderate). This is a real treat for intermediate surfers—long period (13 seconds), clean lines, not too crowded, and the wind is off. That’s the pick of the second week.
Looking further out, Sunday the 27th of September has some potential for the brave. We get a 8 ft to 7 ft SW groundswell with a long 16 to 17-second period, and the wind turns offshore in the afternoon. The combined energy is up at 2734 to 3302 (strong). This is proper, heavy groundswell. It will be clean, but with those long gaps between sets and that power, this is strictly for experienced surfers on the point. Keep an eye on it, but don’t take a beginner.
As for the water, when you’re paddling out at Tubes, the water temperature anomaly isn’t given, so it's just whatever is average for this time of year. Don’t overthink it.
Bottom line: If you can only surf one day, make it Wednesday the 16th of September afternoon for expert-level perfection, or Wednesday the 23rd of September afternoon for a cleaner, more manageable session with offshore winds. The rest of the time is either blown out or too small. Stay patient, folks.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Sat night, calm by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 50mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue night, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue night, fresh winds from the ESE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
2928 | 2307 | 1649 | 872 | 543 | 444 | 303 | 445 | 432 | 806 | 3143 | 2696 | 1367 | 1173 | 1065 | 923 | 1013 | 1785 | 1053 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:37AM1.64m | 4:53PM1.77m | 5:06AM1.58m | 5:20PM1.67m | 5:33AM1.48m | 5:46PM1.53m | 5:59AM1.37m | 6:12PM1.39m | 6:25AM1.24m | 6:38PM1.24m | 6:55AM1.09m | 7:11PM1.09m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:36PM0.01m | 10:39AM0.02m | 11:04PM0.07m | 11:06AM0.10m | 11:30PM0.16m | 11:33AM0.21m | 11:56PM0.27m | 11:59AM0.34m | 00:22AM0.40m | 12:25PM0.48m | 00:53AM0.54m | 12:56PM0.63m | 1:41AM0.68m | ||||||
— | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
6:08 | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | |
mm | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 14 | 28 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 16 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 10 | E 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 13 |
2928 | 2307 | 1649 | 1647 | 1282 | 1098 | 1056 | 701 | 432 | 317 | 3143 | 2696 | 1367 | 1173 | 1065 | 923 | 1013 | 1785 | 1053 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 10 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | E 11 | SW 16 | E 10 | E 10 | S 7 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 8 | E 10 | — | — |
— | — | 2 | 872 | 543 | 444 | 303 | 445 | 459 | 496 | 200 | 162 | 154 | 162 | 233 | 293 | 52 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | S 12 | S 10 | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | 29 | 92 | 3 | 2 | — | 130 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 11 | — | — | E 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 |
1299 | 1842 | 1783 | 2362 | — | — | — | — | — | 806 | — | — | 44 | 136 | 110 | — | 268 | 521 | 558 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 198 | 198 | 180 | 59 | 23 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 256 | 180 | 140 | 644 | 668 | 198 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










