
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with 6,269 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tubes in the next 16 days are 3.0m 18s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 8PM. 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
Things have been a bit rough around here at Tubes. A solid groundswell is pulsing in, but the wind has been a real bastard for the most part, keeping the quality well below what that energy suggests. That first chunk of the forecast is pretty much a write-off for clean surfing.
It kicks off on Thursday the 3rd of September with a decent 8ft SSW swell at 13 seconds, carrying some serious grunt (combined energy of 1996). But the cross-shore wind creates a bit of chop, so it’s messy. That afternoon, the swell drops to 5ft from the SW, but the cross breeze doesn’t let up. Friday the 4th is a full washout with a lumpy 10ft SE windswell and strong cross-onshore winds. Saturday and Sunday the 5th and 6th are also blown out; Sunday morning even sees a very long-period 5ft SSW swell at 21 seconds, but the cross-onshore wind at 22 mph just wrecks it – that sort of period needs protection.
Monday the 7th is still on the fence with some clean-ish windows, but it’s nothing to write home about. Marginal at best.
Now, the standout window finally arrives on Tuesday the 8th of September. That morning, it all comes together. We get a clean 5ft SW swell (13 seconds) and it’s *glassy* – SSE wind at just 3 mph. The combined energy is a moderate 743, but with those conditions, the reef will be working nicely. This is the pick of the first week. Keep in mind the water is running about 62°F, which is much colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent suit.
Wednesday the 9th afternoon brings a little reprieve with a moderate offshore wind, but the swell is small at 4ft.
There’s another long gap of poor conditions through the end of the first week and into the second, with onshore winds and lumpy seas.
But keep your eye on Wednesday the 16th of September. That morning has a clean 7ft SW swell (14 seconds) with a light cross-offshore wind – that’s going to be proper. And then Thursday the 17th morning has a 8ft SW swell with a fresh offshore wind at 19 mph, making for some powerful, lined-up waves. That’s expert territory at that size, but for the experienced crew, it’s worth the wait.
The very end of the forecast, Friday the 18th, turns nasty again with a huge 18ft SW swell, but it’s howling cross-shore and lumpy. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than anything for a paddle board.
Bottom line: Tuesday the 8th morning is the smartest call for clean, surfable waves. The longer-range session on Wednesday the 16th morning has the size and potential for a standout, but it’s a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Thu morning, strong winds from the SSE by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Sun morning, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 12 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 21 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1929 | 742 | 3245 | 1292 | 671 | 502 | 505 | 469 | 388 | 2300 | 5096 | 3698 | 1748 | 1427 | 846 | 663 | 416 | 232 | 346 | 444 | 369 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross | off | off |
High Tide | 7:20PM1.36m | 7:49AM1.14m | 8:32PM1.19m | 9:45AM1.02m | 10:56PM1.12m | 12:16PM1.11m | 00:45AM1.23m | 1:25PM1.30m | 1:43AM1.38m | 2:11PM1.50m | 2:26AM1.51m | 2:48PM1.66m | 3:02AM1.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:56PM0.38m | 1:44AM0.48m | 1:55PM0.54m | 3:16AM0.61m | 4:00PM0.66m | 5:47AM0.59m | 6:28PM0.58m | 7:10AM0.43m | 7:38PM0.40m | 7:58AM0.27m | 8:23PM0.24m | 8:36AM0.13m | 9:01PM0.11m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | 4 | 11 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 32 | 26 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 28 | 22 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 21 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
1929 | 742 | 341 | 491 | 456 | 163 | 505 | 469 | 388 | 2300 | 5096 | 3698 | 1748 | 1427 | 858 | 444 | 280 | 201 | 202 | 444 | 369 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | E 9 | — | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SSW 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | E 9 | E 9 |
15 | 13 | — | 222 | 166 | 101 | 66 | 47 | 40 | 302 | 117 | 42 | 58 | 49 | 846 | 663 | 416 | 232 | 346 | 202 | 160 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SSW 10 | — | — | SSW 15 | S 14 | E 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 26 | S 13 | SW 10 | — | — | — | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 15 | SW 11 | SSE 8 | — |
26 | 20 | — | — | 43 | 134 | 18 | 31 | 129 | 30 | 76 | — | — | — | 114 | 80 | 49 | 154 | 171 | 6 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
67 | 554 | 3245 | 1292 | 671 | 502 | 256 | 195 | 237 | 318 | 481 | 1362 | 1074 | 1098 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 140 | 425 | 1736 | 1391 | 672 | 172 | 595 | 595 | 198 | 198 | 560 | 184 | 140 | 198 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 30 | 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.










