Buy Less, Surf More This Black Friday
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Surf Forecasts:
The surf forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Dec 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore 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 Saturday (Dec 13) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Dec 11) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 7th Dec) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 7th Dec) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 13th Dec) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 12 days.
Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sat night, light winds from the SSE by Mon night). | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Thu morning, strong winds from the NW by Fri afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 07 | Monday 08 | Tuesday 09 | Wednesday 10 | Thursday 11 | Friday 12 | Sat 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | ||
Rating (10 max) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wave Height (m) & direction (?) | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SW | SSW | SW | SW | SW | SW | WSW | WSW | |
| Period(s) (?) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | |
Wave (?)Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 784 | 1415 | 1048 | 805 | 736 | 855 | 1004 | 850 | 880 | 441 | 232 | 332 | 271 | 200 | 226 | 118 | 481 | 1070 | 1576 | 3155 | 2598 | ||
Wind (km/h) | SSE | SSW | S | SSE | SSW | SSW | SSE | SW | S | SSE | SSW | S | SE | WSW | SW | NNW | NW | NW | WNW | W | SW | |
| Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy | cross | on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | on | cross- on | cross | cross- on | cross- on | cross | cross- on | on | cross- off | cross | cross | cross- on | cross- on | on | |
High Tide / height (m) | 4:40AM 1.52 | 4:56PM 1.48 | 5:29AM 1.47 | 5:45PM 1.36 | 6:20AM 1.40 | 6:38PM 1.24 | 7:15AM 1.33 | 7:38PM 1.12 | 8:16AM 1.26 | 8:48PM 1.05 | 9:22AM 1.22 | 10:06PM 1.02 | 10:28AM 1.20 | |||||||||
Low Tide / height (m) | 10:26PM 0.03 | 10:50AM 0.16 | 11:12PM 0.11 | 11:42AM 0.24 | 11:59PM 0.21 | 12:37PM 0.33 | 12:49AM 0.32 | 1:39PM 0.42 | 1:44AM 0.42 | 2:50PM 0.48 | 2:48AM 0.50 | 4:06PM 0.49 | 4:02AM 0.55 | 5:14PM 0.47 | ||||||||
Sunday 07 | Monday 08 | Tuesday 09 | Wednesday 10 | Thursday 11 | Friday 12 | Sat 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sunrise | - | 5:28 | - | - | 5:28 | - | - | 5:28 | - | - | 5:28 | - | - | 5:28 | - | - | 5:28 | - | - | 5:28 | - | |
| Sunset | - | - | 7:45 | - | - | 7:46 | - | - | 7:47 | - | - | 7:47 | - | - | 7:49 | - | - | 7:50 | - | - | 7:51 | |
Rain (mm) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | - | |
| Temp. °C | 18 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 24 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | |
| Feels °C (?) | 12 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | |

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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Van Riebeek surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.

