
Surf Forecasts:
Tubes surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 17s period, SW swell with 9,386 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s 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 4.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tubes over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This is a solid run of swell for Tubes – a sheltered reef and point setup that likes a good SSW pulse, and it’s about to get a whole lot of that. The water’s sitting at 64°, which is a bit colder than what we’d normally expect for this time of year, so maybe grab a thicker spring suit or a hood.
We start off Friday the 17th with a solid 10ft SW groundswell, period around 12 seconds, and light cross-off winds. That’s excellent surf, but at this size it’s really for experienced surfers only – the energy is strong (2190). Afternoon drops a little to 8ft but stays clean. Saturday the 18th backs off to 4ft to 5ft, still clean with offshore breezes, but much smaller. Sunday the 19th morning holds 5ft with offshore wind, but the period drops to 8 seconds – that’s shorter period wind swell, less grunt. Sunday afternoon the wind picks up to 19 mph, so it gets messy despite the 10ft swell.
Monday the 20th is a beauty: glassy conditions, 8ft SW groundswell (10 seconds), and strong energy (1467). That’s a standout morning. Tuesday the 21st is also magic – flat calm glass in the morning with 4ft, and then a 14-second, 5ft SSW groundswell in the afternoon. The long period means better shaped waves, but at a beach break it might run a bit straight – at Tubes, a reef and point, it’ll be perfect.
Wednesday the 22nd brings a serious pulse: 8ft to 8ft SW groundswell with 13-second periods, offshore winds, and energy readings climbing into the thousands (2079 and 4321). This is expert territory. Thursday the 23rd keeps it big: 12ft in the morning with glassy conditions, but the afternoon gets a cross-shore chop. Friday the 24th is the pick of the whole forecast – 12ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, glassy in the morning, clean offshore in the afternoon, and energy readings over 6000. That is proper, world-class level surf, but only for the very experienced.
Saturday the 25th stays big at 13ft, but the wind is moderate cross-off and it’s a bit messy, with energy still massive (6219). Sunday the 26th sees a strong onshore wind shift, with 22 mph onshore, making it poor for surfing – the 5ft morning is a write-off, though the afternoon jumps to 12ft with a 17-second period, but that onshore wind ruins it. Monday the 27th bounces back with 8ft clean surf and cross-off winds, energy still high (2590). Tuesday the 28th is glassy again with 6ft, very good.
From Wednesday the 29th onward, the quality drops. Strong cross-on winds and onshore winds kill the shape, with swell sizes around 5ft to 5ft, and poor conditions. The 31st of July and 1st of August bring back big swell (13ft and 12ft), but with cross-shore winds and chop, it’s marginal at best. The energy is still huge (over 5000), but the wind just isn’t cooperating.
Best on offer: Without a doubt, Friday the 24th is the standout. The morning glass with an 12ft, 16-second SW groundswell is as good as it gets for experts. The Monday the 20th morning is the best for a slightly smaller, glassy session if you’re not charging the big stuff. Crowds are likely at Tubes, so get in early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 8 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SE 12 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2190 | 1481 | 804 | 361 | 377 | 777 | 319 | 1265 | 3315 | 1090 | 619 | 400 | 442 | 883 | 2020 | 1982 | 2309 | 3433 | 3139 | 3066 | 4768 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross | glassy | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:00PM1.69m | 6:10AM1.50m | 6:39PM1.62m | 6:48AM1.39m | 7:17PM1.51m | 7:26AM1.26m | 7:58PM1.38m | 8:10AM1.14m | 8:45PM1.26m | 9:10AM1.04m | 9:52PM1.15m | 10:51AM0.98m | 11:31PM1.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:41AM0.04m | 00:12AM0.19m | 12:17PM0.12m | 00:52AM0.28m | 12:52PM0.23m | 1:32AM0.39m | 1:29PM0.36m | 2:16AM0.49m | 2:10PM0.49m | 3:10AM0.59m | 3:05PM0.61m | 4:31AM0.65m | 4:37PM0.69m | ||||||||
7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | S 11 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SE 10 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 18 |
2190 | 1481 | 804 | 356 | 344 | 777 | 295 | 134 | 3315 | 1090 | 619 | 400 | 442 | 883 | 2020 | 1982 | 1939 | 51 | 3139 | 3066 | 4768 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 11 | WSW 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ENE 9 | SE 11 | SSW 22 | SW 12 |
73 | 72 | 72 | 361 | 80 | 198 | 133 | 63 | 273 | 361 | 407 | 393 | 278 | 204 | 146 | 97 | 73 | 16 | 33 | 91 | 2148 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 14 | S 13 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 13 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SW 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | — | E 9 | SE 11 | ESE 11 |
— | 15 | 78 | 71 | 49 | 199 | 35 | 33 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 163 | 314 | 93 | 7 | 6 | 17 | — | 6 | 31 | 40 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 10 | — | SW 8 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 5 | SW 13 | SW 12 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 377 | — | 319 | 1265 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 90 | 2309 | 3433 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 1 | 0 | 198 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape (South) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










