Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 12s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 9,208 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 12s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 12s 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 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s switch to feet and miles per hour. Same deal – we’re looking at Tubes, a sheltered reef and point that’s consistent and loves a south-southwest swell. The first few days are a bust, so don’t bother until Thursday morning. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.
Wednesday the 26th is a washout. You’ve got a 12ft S swell with a 16-second period, but the east wind is howling at 15 mph, turning it into a choppy, cross-onshore mess. The energy is strong at 6181, but it’s not worth your time. That wind ramps up to 22 mph in the afternoon – still lumpy and cross-onshore.
The first real window opens Thursday morning, the 27th. Swell drops to a clean 7ft from the south-southwest, 12-second period, and the wind goes dead calm from the east-northeast – glassy perfection. This is a standout. The energy is still chunky at 1475, and with that long period wrapping into the reef, it’s gonna be smooth. If you’re intermediate or above, get out there. Thursday afternoon is still surfable at 6ft, but a light cross-onshore makes it a touch less perfect.
Friday the 28th starts small with 5ft S swell and a light cross-onshore. The afternoon flips to glassy with a north wind at 3 mph and 4ft S swell – fun little session on a grovel board.
Saturday the 29th gives you proper offshore wind from the southwest at 12 mph, with a 4ft S swell. Clean, glassy lines, but tiny. Energy is weak at 529. Just a cruiser. Sunday the 30th gets a rough 8ft SW swell with a short 7-second period and strong wind – it’s clean but crumbly. Not recommended.
Monday the 31st is a reset: morning glass from the west at 3 mph, 6ft WSW swell at 12 seconds, energy 846. Clean and well-shaped. Tuesday the 1st of September is a potential heater: morning has 8ft SW swell at 11 seconds with a gentle offshore – expect very good surf, energy at 1313. Top pick. Tuesday afternoon jumps to 15ft SW swell with a 15-second period, but cross-offshore wind hits 22 mph – massive and only for experts.
Wednesday the 2nd is still huge with 15ft SW swell at 13 seconds, energy at 6372, wind at 25 mph from the west-southwest. Clean but pumping hard. Thursday the 3rd drops to 7ft SW swell at 12 seconds with moderate offshore – energy at 1627, very good conditions. Another standout for confident surfers.
Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are trashed – east wind at 15-19 mph cross-onshore ruining a 10ft S swell. That’s kite-surfing weather. Sunday the 6th is marginal with a 10ft S swell and onshore wind – skip it.
Monday the 7th of September brings it back with 6ft SSE swell, offshore wind, clean – energy at 1619. After that, the surf fades to small, weak, and messy through to Wednesday the 9th, barely 3ft. Not much to get excited about.
The Standout: Thursday morning the 27th and Tuesday morning the 1st of September are your best windows. Thursday has that glassy, 7ft SSW swell wrapping clean. Tuesday is slightly bigger at 8ft SW with a gentle offshore – both will have punchy, fun lines.
Crowds at Tubes are *sometimes* an issue, but on the cleaner days, it’ll be worth it.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 8 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5258 | 4748 | 1992 | 1430 | 1100 | 827 | 483 | 403 | 390 | 307 | 281 | 595 | 357 | 601 | 878 | 625 | 549 | 475 | 718 | 4682 | 9098 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:10PM1.52m | 3:15AM1.54m | 3:36PM1.63m | 3:42AM1.60m | 4:02PM1.72m | 4:10AM1.64m | 4:29PM1.77m | 4:39AM1.64m | 4:57PM1.78m | 5:08AM1.61m | 5:26PM1.74m | 5:40AM1.54m | 5:58PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:58AM0.21m | 9:14PM0.25m | 9:23AM0.11m | 9:41PM0.15m | 9:49AM0.04m | 10:09PM0.09m | 10:15AM0.00m | 10:38PM0.05m | 10:42AM-0.00m | 11:07PM0.06m | 11:11AM0.04m | 11:38PM0.10m | 11:41AM0.11m | 00:12AM0.19m | |||||||
6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 16 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 32 | 27 | 31 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 22 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 20 | 12 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | E 11 | E 11 | SW 14 | SSW 8 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SSW 13 | E 10 | SW 14 |
5258 | 4748 | 1992 | 1430 | 1100 | 827 | 483 | 403 | 390 | 307 | 227 | 191 | 357 | 601 | 878 | 625 | 549 | 475 | 423 | 70 | 9098 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | E 8 | WSW 12 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 11 | SW 13 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | E 10 | E 5 | E 10 | — | E 9 |
572 | 45 | 45 | 477 | 94 | 469 | 362 | 266 | 200 | 212 | 205 | 91 | 151 | 494 | 121 | 44 | 100 | 25 | 46 | — | 42 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | S 14 | SSE 14 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 15 | WSW 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 10 | E 10 | E 6 | — | — |
— | — | — | 83 | 94 | 77 | 153 | 213 | 147 | 225 | 281 | 137 | 117 | 112 | 73 | 104 | 9 | 71 | 17 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | E 5 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | WSW 12 | SW 6 | — | — | — | ESE 6 | ENE 5 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | — |
14 | 97 | 622 | 790 | 493 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 595 | 165 | — | — | — | 47 | 36 | 718 | 4682 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 198 | 514 | 140 | 0 | 140 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 297 | 144 |
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.











