
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 4,635 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 08) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a stretch ahead of us at Tubes that’s got a bit of everything, but it’s going to test your patience before it pays off. Let’s walk through it.
The opening weekend is a write-off, honestly. Saturday morning (Aug 8) is cross-off with a fresh breeze, and the swell is only marginal — too messy to get excited about. The afternoon cleans up a little with a proper offshore, but it’s still not firing, so don’t rush out.
Sunday (Aug 9) has the size but it’s all over the shop. That 10ft swell is there, but the wind is cross-off and there’s rain messing with the surface. It’s not going to be pretty. Monday (Aug 10) is more of the same — cross-off, 8ft to 10ft, but it’s just not making the grade. We’re looking at a couple of days of shoulder-shrugging surf.
Then Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug 11-12) the wind swings onshore and it gets properly chopped up. Those are days to stay on the beach, not in the water. The swell drops and the energy gets weak, so there’s no saving it.
Thursday (Aug 13) holds that poor quality, and Friday morning (Aug 14) is still junk. But Friday afternoon (Aug 14) we get a little glimpse — 4ft at 14 seconds, with a gentle offshore blowing. It’s small but clean. Worth a paddle if you’re keen.
Now, the standout in this whole window is Saturday morning, August 22. That’s over a week away, so treat it as a promising long-range call, not a guarantee. But the charts are looking proper. We’re talking 16ft of WSW swell at 11 seconds, light cross-off winds, and the energy reading is massive — 6236. That’s strong to very strong wave energy, folks. This is one for the experienced crew. Tubes is a reef and point setup, and with that size, it’s going to be thick and powerful. Beginners stay well clear — anything over 8ft is expert territory.
The Saturday afternoon session (Aug 22) stays serious, with 15ft at 12 seconds and clean, light winds. Then Sunday morning (Aug 23) rounds it off with another solid 12ft at 14 seconds, with a gentle offshore. That’s groundswell, long-period, and it’s going to be proper out there.
Before that, there’s a bit of a tease on Saturday evening (Aug 15) with 4ft and an offshore, and then Sunday the 16th morning has 7ft at 9 seconds, clean and offshore — not huge, but it could be a fun one.
The 19th (Wednesday morning) looks like a similar moderate sort of day, with 5ft and light cross-off winds, glassy. And the 20th and 21st have some offshore mornings, but the size is nothing to write home about.
The crowd situation at Tubes is listed as sometimes, so be ready for that if you’re heading out.
Overall, the best on offer is without a doubt that big Saturday swell on the 22nd. It’s a while out, so don’t book your flights yet, but it’s got the size, it’s got the wind, and the energy is through the roof. Sunday the 16th morning is the only other real shout for a clean, solid session, but it’s not in the same league.
Keep it on your radar, and we’ll see how it shapes up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Fri night, fresh winds from the S by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3517 | 2462 | 1919 | 4427 | 3422 | 2345 | 2936 | 1986 | 2061 | 4635 | 1879 | 1117 | 686 | 526 | 932 | 1159 | 1408 | 989 | 1605 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 10:46PM1.22m | 11:59AM1.09m | 00:33AM1.28m | 1:24PM1.24m | 1:44AM1.41m | 2:20PM1.42m | 2:35AM1.53m | 3:04PM1.59m | 3:18AM1.63m | 3:44PM1.72m | 3:57AM1.68m | 4:20PM1.79m | 4:32AM1.68m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:36AM0.55m | 6:00PM0.57m | 7:09AM0.43m | 7:29PM0.44m | 8:08AM0.28m | 8:27PM0.28m | 8:52AM0.14m | 9:13PM0.15m | 9:31AM0.03m | 9:54PM0.07m | 10:06AM-0.03m | 10:32PM0.03m | |||||||
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
5:44 | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 |
3517 | 2462 | 1919 | 4427 | 3422 | 2345 | 2936 | 1986 | 2061 | 4635 | 1879 | 1117 | 509 | 340 | 932 | 1159 | 1408 | 989 | 1605 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 8 | SSW 15 | E 9 | — | SSE 8 | SSW 24 | SSW 22 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | S 10 |
78 | 43 | 80 | 68 | 46 | 31 | 30 | 12 | 167 | 15 | — | 321 | 113 | 526 | 172 | 96 | 516 | 904 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 9 | — | — | — | S 10 | — | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — |
42 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 16 | — | — | — | 8 | — | 71 | 30 | 16 | 7 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 4 | WSW 6 | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
— | 36 | 131 | — | — | 146 | — | — | — | — | 623 | 857 | 686 | 597 | 606 | 871 | 526 | 442 | 844 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 140 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 893 | 0 | 219 | 1 | 183 | 172 | 198 | 198 | 183 | 198 | 172 | 142 | 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.











