Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,285 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s 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 (Sep 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) 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 3.5m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up at Tubes over the next couple of weeks.
The window gets off to a rough start, no real surf worth paddling out for until the fog lifts. From Saturday the 12th, we’re looking at a few days of slop and chop driven by fresh cross-onshore winds. The swell jumps up Saturday morning to 4ft from the WSW, period at 12 seconds, and combined wave energy is moderate at 957. But with a light cross-onshore breeze and marginal conditions, it’s a pass. By Sunday the 13th, it’s a write-off – 8ft of SW groundswell with a 15-second period, that’s a lot of water moving, but fresh cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions make it ugly. Too big for most and messy.
Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th see the swell drop back to 4ft, still SW but now with cleaner spells. Tuesday morning looks tidy – light cross-offshore breeze, clean conditions, and moderate wave energy of 474. That’s a nice little session for an intermediate, nothing too hectic. But the real standout comes Wednesday the 16th. Early morning, 10ft of SW groundswell with a long 14-second period, combined energy is pumping at 3287. That’s big, powerful, and with light offshore wind – clean as a whistle. This one is for experts only; the reef and point setup at Tubes will handle that long period beautifully, but expect it to be heavy and demanding. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
After that, the week turns poor again from Thursday the 17th through to the 23rd – cross-onshore winds and choppy seas dominate. Swell sticks around 6ft to 8ft but it’s blown out. Not worth a second look.
Then we get a second window of hope. On Wednesday the 25th, the pattern flips – offshore wind, clean conditions, and a 8ft swell from the ESE, period at 10 seconds. That’s a solid, punchy wave, combined energy at 1581, and it’s off the optimum direction for Tubes (SSW is the sweet spot), but with that strong offshore wind and clean lines, it’s still a real treat. Thursday the 26th is similar but with more cross-shore wind. That Wednesday morning is the pick of the second week, though it’s promising but less certain this far out.
Water temp is sitting at 60°F, which is 6° colder than average for this time of year – that’s very unusual. You’ll want a thick suit.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ESE on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the SE by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 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) | WSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | ESE 10 | 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 12 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 365 | 1521 | 2727 | 2307 | 1649 | 1676 | 600 | 502 | 303 | 445 | 478 | 1576 | 3285 | 2020 | 1326 | 1154 | 970 | 773 | 944 | 786 | 1594 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:24PM1.83m | 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 | 10:10AM-0.03m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 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 | 2 | — | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 18 | 20 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 14 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | ESE 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 365 | 1521 | 2727 | 2307 | 1649 | 1676 | 1232 | 1069 | 1170 | 701 | 478 | 1576 | 3285 | 2020 | 1326 | 1154 | 970 | 627 | 944 | 786 | 1594 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | — | — | SW 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 301 | 29 | — | — | — | 961 | 600 | 502 | 303 | 445 | 459 | 317 | 204 | 245 | 140 | — | — | 773 | 333 | 260 | 222 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 11 | SSW 15 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 121 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 62 | 29 | 92 | 452 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 49 | 58 | 443 | 20 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | — | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 170 | 198 | 1287 | 1794 | 1949 | 2314 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 452 | 755 | 928 | 820 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 140 | 198 | 198 | 198 | 142 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 198 | 352 | 198 | 172 | 644 | 672 | 172 |
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.
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