Van Riebeek Surf Forecast

/ Cape Town (70 surf breaks) /

South Africa (276 surf breaks) / Lat Long: (33.70° S 18.44° E)

Surf Forecasts:

Van Riebeek surfForecast / Cape Town / South Africa

12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Wednesday 12 Nov 2025 SAST

Forecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent

Van Riebeek surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.

Today's Van Riebeek sea temperature is 12.6° C
(Which is 4.7°C colder than average for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Van Riebeek this week:

The surf forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Nov 13) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Van Riebeek in the next 12 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Nov 16) 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 1.7m 7s period and expected on Monday (Nov 17) at 8AM.

Wave Type	Time (SAST) & Date	Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)	2AM (Thu 13th Nov)	7ft (2.1m) 12s
Best Surf	2AM (Thu 13th Nov)	7ft (2.1m) 12s
Most Powerful	2AM (Sun 16th Nov)	10ft (3.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 12 days.

Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent

12 Days Hourly

Print Table

	Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Thu night, strong winds from the S by Sat afternoon).										Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sat night, light winds from the SE by Tue morning).
		Thursday 13			Friday 14			Saturday 15			Sunday 16			Monday 17			Tuesday 18			Wed 19
	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM
Rating (10 max)	!	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	!	!	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Swell Height Map See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)	SW	SW	WSW	WSW	S	S	SSW	S	S	SSW	SW	S	SW	SSE	S	S	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW
Period(s) (?)	12	12	12	11	6	10	7	8	7	14	13	8	12	8	8	8	16	14	13	13	13
Wave Graph (?)
kJ (?)	1249	2379	1044	581	260	612	448	459	743	3949	1498	875	505	422	688	279	203	412	380	444	680
Wind (km/h)	SSE	S	S	SE	S	S	S	S	S	SE	SSE	SSE	SE	SSE	S	SE	S	S	S	S	S
Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross	cross- on	cross- on	cross	cross- on	cross- on	cross	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on	cross- on
High Tide / height (m)	9:53PM 1.03	10:33AM 1.20		11:16PM 1.07	11:35AM 1.26		12:13AM 1.14	12:21PM 1.32		12:55AM 1.21	12:58PM 1.36		1:29AM 1.27	1:31PM 1.40		2:01AM 1.33		2:02PM 1.43	2:31AM 1.37		2:33PM 1.44
Low Tide / height (m)	4:04AM 0.52		5:14PM 0.46		5:18AM 0.49	6:11PM 0.39		6:11AM 0.44	6:52PM 0.31		6:53AM 0.39	7:25PM 0.25		7:29AM 0.35	7:55PM 0.20		8:01AM 0.31		8:24PM 0.16	8:32AM 0.28

		Thursday 13			Friday 14			Saturday 15			Sunday 16			Monday 17			Tuesday 18			Wed 19
Sunrise	-	5:35	-	-	5:35	-	-	5:35	-	-	5:33	-	-	5:33	-	-	5:33	-	-	5:31	-
Sunset	-	-	7:23	-	-	7:24	-	-	7:25	-	-	7:27	-	-	7:28	-	-	7:29	-	-	7:30

Rain (mm)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Temp. °C	19	22	24	23	21	21	18	19	19	17	22	23	20	23	26	21	21	21	17	21	22
Feels °C (?)	17	18	20	20	17	15	13	13	11	8	18	16	14	19	21	16	18	16	12	17	16

Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)

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Information about the Van Riebeek Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Van Riebeek provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Van Riebeek can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Van Riebeek 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 (Van Riebeek) 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 Van Riebeek 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.

Van Riebeek is 13 km (8 miles) from the city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.