Van Riebeek Surf Break

Van Riebeek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 33.70° S 18.44° E

Issued: 1 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Van Riebeek sea temperature is
13.5° C

2.1°C colder than average for this time of year

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


Van Riebeek surf forecast from 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,228 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period with WSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Van Riebeek this week:

The surf forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Van Riebeek in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 12s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Mon 6th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 12s
Best Surf 5AM (Mon 6th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 12s
Most Powerful11PM (Wed 8th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Van Riebeek over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
4
4
4
!
!
!
2
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
3
4
3
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
WSW
11
1.6
WSW
11
1.8
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
2.4
SW
13
2.2
SW
13
2
SW
13
2.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
3
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
13
2.1
SSW
12
2.1
SSW
12
2
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
11
1.5
S
11
1.1
SSW
10
1.5
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1183
645
1075
1065
1534
1846
1535
1305
3068
2609
2598
2887
2588
2366
1237
1289
1072
750
535
246
703
Wind (km/h)
5
ENE
5
SW
0
NNE
5
NNE
5
SW
5
S
5
SSW
10
SSW
15
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
15
SE
15
ESE
10
SSE
10
ESE
5
SSE
10
SW
10
E
5
NE
10
WSW
5
N
Wind State
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
7:27PM1.34m
7:53AM1.14m
8:20PM1.31m
9:01AM1.10m
9:26PM1.29m
10:21AM1.10m
10:42PM1.29m
11:40AM1.15m
11:57PM1.34m
12:49PM1.25m
1:03AM1.41m
1:48PM1.36m
2:02AM1.49m
Low Tide
12:59PM0.35m
1:48AM0.38m
1:49PM0.41m
2:50AM0.40m
2:52PM0.47m
4:03AM0.39m
4:12PM0.49m
5:22AM0.34m
5:37PM0.45m
6:34AM0.26m
6:51PM0.37m
7:34AM0.17m
7:53PM0.26m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:50
5:51
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:52
 mm
Temp °C
16
17
16
16
17
16
16
17
14
13
14
13
12
16
15
14
16
14
14
16
14
Feels °C
16
17
16
16
16
16
16
15
11
9
10
10
9
13
12
13
15
13
13
15
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
WSW
11
1.6
WSW
11
1.8
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
2.4
SW
13
2.2
SW
13
2
SW
13
2.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
3
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
13
2.1
SSW
12
2.1
SSW
12
2
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
11
1.5
S
11
1.1
SSW
10
1.5
SSW
13
Energy kJ
1183
645
1075
1065
1534
1846
1535
1305
3068
2609
2598
2887
2588
2366
1237
1289
1072
750
535
246
703
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SW
16
1.4
SW
12
1.2
W
11
1.1
W
11
0.7
W
11
0.5
SW
20
1.1
SW
18
1.4
SW
16
0.5
S
11
1.6
SW
13
0.2
W
14
0.3
W
12
1.3
S
8
0.6
W
11
0.6
W
11
0.6
W
11
0.6
W
11
0.5
W
10
0.5
W
10
Energy kJ
43
580
357
282
112
188
781
1039
66
821
16
27
217
87
88
88
83
52
48
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
11
0.1
SW
23
0.3
SW
22
0.5
W
11
0.1
SW
20
0.1
SW
18
0.1
SW
18
0.3
SSW
14
0.5
S
14
0.3
SW
15
Energy kJ
58
21
73
64
15
12
12
40
94
34
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
SSE
7
1.7
SSE
8
1.6
SSE
8
1.7
SSE
8
1.4
SSE
7
1.3
SSE
6
1.1
SSE
6
0.9
SSE
7
Energy kJ
316
310
306
302
175
140
101
68
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
3
Distance (km)
5
0
0
0
6
5
5
4
23
10
23
7
7
5
5
5
10
0
0
43
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
7
8
7
5
5
9
6
9
9
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
5
  • 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 16 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.

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