Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 5,389 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tubes in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right off the bat, we’ve got serious size on the way, but not all of it is going to be user-friendly. This is a run that’s going to sort the men from the boys, especially for the first few days. The water’s running at a very unusual 54°F at Tubes (Big Island), which is far colder than usual for this time of year—so you’ll want the thickest wetsuit you own and maybe a hood.
The opening show is Wednesday the 19th. We’re looking at a solid 10ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period and light offshore winds. That’s a big, clean wave, but it’s pushing the limits for anyone who isn’t an experienced surfer. The energy is strong (2536), and Tubes will be handling it, but this is not a paddle-out for the faint-hearted. The afternoon backs off slightly to 8ft, still clean with a moderate offshore breeze (2148). It’s a heavy start.
Thursday the 20th is a standout. Overnight the swell kicks up to 13ft with a 14-second period, and the energy is almost double (5389). We’re talking a powerful, thick groundswell. Morning winds are a gentle offshore, so it’s going to be big and clean. The afternoon drops to 12ft, still SW, with a light cross-offshore breeze (4596). This is the best of the first week—big, powerful, and lined up perfectly for this reef and point. You need your wits about you.
Friday the 21st is a write-off. The wind swings onshore from the east and chop takes over. The swell is still there at 8ft, but the quality is gone, and it only gets worse by the afternoon. A day to stay home and sharpen your fins. Saturday the 22nd is tricky—morning has a strong cross-offshore wind at 25 mph, which makes it a windy, messy affair despite the clean look. The afternoon drops the period to a short 8-second windswell, which won’t hold up well at this spot.
Sunday the 23rd is back on. We get a clean 12ft SW swell with a gentle offshore in the morning (3471) and light cross-offshore winds in the afternoon (4488). It’s another serious day of surf, but it’s clean and powerful. Monday the 24th is more manageable, with 8ft in the morning, clean and light offshore (2865). The afternoon drops right off to 4ft but with a very long 16-second period (1900)—classic groundswell, maybe a bit straight for the beach, but at a reef and point like this, it’ll be beautiful.
Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th fade a bit. The onshores return and the surf gets lumpy. The swell drops, and it’s a bit of a lull before the next pulse. Thursday the 27th is small, around 4ft, but still clean with an offshore wind in the morning (878). Not much on offer.
We have a dry spell from the 28th through the 31st. The surf quality is generally poor—onshore winds, chop, and lumpy conditions. The swell is inconsistent with the wind, and you’ll be fighting it. Take a break.
Then, looking ahead to the start of next week, there’s a promising run on Tuesday the 1st of September. It’s not huge, 7ft, but it’s glassy in the morning with a 14-second period (1940). That’s a clean, fun wave and a good one to get your groove back. Wednesday the 2nd stays clean and steady with 7ft and light cross-offshore winds (1299) all day.
But the big standout, the one to circle in red, is Thursday the 3rd of September. The swell is forecast to jump to 18ft with a 12-second period, and the energy readings are off the charts (9816). It’s an expert-only day, period. The morning is offshore and clean, and the afternoon is exceptional (10613). This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the entire window, and it’s going to be a spectacle. Set your alarms for that one, but only if you’ve got the skills and the board to handle it. It’s a long-range call, so it’s promising but not set in stone.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2536 | 2148 | 1470 | 5389 | 4596 | 2630 | 1638 | 1234 | 698 | 771 | 819 | 2067 | 3471 | 3701 | 1909 | 1374 | 806 | 1830 | 1852 | 1713 | 1927 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 7:31PM1.24m | 7:46AM1.06m | 8:17PM1.09m | 9:08AM0.94m | 10:35PM1.00m | 12:36PM0.96m | 00:52AM1.07m | 1:40PM1.10m | 1:44AM1.20m | 2:15PM1.24m | 2:18AM1.33m | 2:43PM1.39m | 2:47AM1.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:09PM0.48m | 1:49AM0.58m | 1:47PM0.62m | 2:53AM0.70m | 3:08PM0.75m | 5:54AM0.72m | 6:33PM0.74m | 7:28AM0.60m | 7:41PM0.62m | 8:04AM0.46m | 8:16PM0.49m | 8:32AM0.33m | 8:46PM0.36m | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | E 8 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 |
2536 | 2148 | 1470 | 5389 | 4596 | 2630 | 1638 | 1234 | 698 | 771 | 795 | 5 | 3471 | 3701 | 1909 | 1374 | 603 | 1830 | 1852 | 1713 | 999 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | — | WSW 11 | E 7 | E 8 | — | — | WSW 13 | WSW 11 | SSW 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | E 10 | S 20 | SSW 17 |
44 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | 329 | 23 | 20 | — | — | 787 | 571 | 688 | 491 | 256 | 2 | 302 | 1927 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 10 | — | E 9 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 803 | 806 | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 4 | SW 7 | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 |
— | 13 | 230 | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | 554 | 819 | 2067 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 180 | 0 | 143 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 198 | 140 |
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.











