
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,929 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (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 5AM. 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 1.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore 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 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Tubes over the next couple of weeks. It’s a mixed bag, but patience will pay off big time.
The first few days are a real struggle. From Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th, the wind is howling cross-onshore, making a mess of the swell. There’s a lot of power in the water – readings of 1202 and 1936 (moderate wave energy) – but it’s all choppy and lumpy. Not worth paddling out. Kite surfers would have a field day, though.
Saturday the 15th morning is the first clean session. A light offshore wind from the SW cleans up a 1.3m swell at 14 seconds. The energy is down to 594 (weak to moderate), so it’s small and fun, not big. A good one for a relaxed session.
Sunday the 16th afternoon is another clean spell with a 1.2m swell and offshore wind. Not huge, but tidy.
Tuesday the 18th is a solid day all round. Moderate offshore winds all day, with a 1.7m SW swell in the morning and a 1.5m in the afternoon. The energy is in the moderate range (996 and 760). The reef and point setup here will really make the most of that long-period groundswell.
But the clear winner is Wednesday the 19th afternoon. Swell hits 2.4m from the SSW, the wind is a solid offshore from the SW, and the energy is pumping at 1386 (moderate to strong wave energy). That’s a powerful, clean, expert-only wave. The morning is also very good at 2.3m with a cross-offshore breeze.
The next big one is Saturday the 22nd morning. A clean 2.2m SSW swell, gentle offshore wind, and massive energy at 2268 (strong wave energy). That’s serious groundswell. Only for experienced surfers. The sets will be a bit spaced, but the quality will be worth the wait.
After that, it fades. Monday the 24th afternoon has a clean 1.3m, then it’s mostly small and ordinary through to the end of the window.
One thing: the water temperature on the 12th is way colder than normal – a -5° anomaly. So the water will feel icy. Bring your thickest wetsuit.
My top calls: Wednesday the 19th afternoon for the experts, and Saturday the 22nd morning as a close second. For a fun, manageable session, Tuesday the 18th is your best bet. The first week is a write-off unless you’re on a kite.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 20 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
712 | 922 | 1294 | 1100 | 1929 | 1225 | 930 | 842 | 746 | 586 | 532 | 501 | 451 | 465 | 248 | 920 | 1077 | 1330 | 996 | 760 | 522 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:39AM1.33m | 6:59PM1.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:39PM0.33m | 1:12AM0.45m | |||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 28 | 25 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 17 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | E 8 | E 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 12 |
372 | 922 | 1294 | 1001 | 1929 | 751 | 401 | 266 | 313 | 586 | 532 | 501 | 451 | 172 | 244 | 920 | 1077 | 1330 | 996 | 760 | 522 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 20 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
712 | 237 | 103 | 1100 | 7 | 1225 | 930 | 842 | 746 | 199 | 160 | 117 | 82 | 465 | 222 | 252 | 206 | 161 | 156 | 92 | 65 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | — | S 9 | — | — | — | W 4 | WSW 4 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 6 | SW 14 | SW 5 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — |
— | 43 | 31 | 16 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | 64 | 69 | 1 | 248 | 24 | 264 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | E 8 | — | WNW 4 | — | — | N 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | — | — | E 4 | — | WSW 5 | WSW 6 |
531 | 875 | 984 | 639 | 742 | — | — | 432 | — | 13 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 31 | — | — | 6 | — | 117 | 177 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 198 | 198 | 140 | 180 | 140 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 140 | 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.











