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Surf Forecasts:

Van Riebeek surfForecast / Cape Town / South Africa

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Thursday 18 Sep 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
14.5° C
 (Which is 1.1°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 Friday (Sep 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Van Riebeek in the next 12 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Monday (Sep 22) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Fri 19th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s
Best Surf 5AM (Wed 24th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 5AM (Wed 24th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 15s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
!
0
!
3
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.6
S
1.7
S
1.6
S
1.3
SSW
1
SSW
0.7
S
0.6
S
0.5
S
0.4
SSE
0.4
SSE
0.4
SW
0.8
W
0.5
SW
0.6
SW
0.9
SW
1.4
WSW
1.9
SW
3
SW
2.4
SW
2.5
SW
1.8
SW
Period(s) (?)11111210101212121212126131212111614141312
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)61772669937020113296734546365186932054441869305121882103992
Wind
(km/h)
15
SSW
10
ESE
10
SE
10
SSW
10
NNW
20
NW
10
W
5
SE
5
WSW
20
WSW
10
N
10
W
15
SSW
10
SSE
15
SSW
25
S
20
SSE
15
SSE
30
S
15
SE
15
SSE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		cross-
off		crossoncross-
off		crosscross-
on		crossglassoncross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		crosscross-
on		cross-
on		crosscrosscross-
on		crosscross
High Tide
/ height (m)
1:48AM
1.34
2:06PM
1.47
2:22AM
1.41
2:36PM
1.55
2:52AM
1.46
3:04PM
1.59
3:21AM
1.48
3:31PM
1.60
3:48AM
1.48
3:58PM
1.58
4:16AM
1.44
4:24PM
1.52
4:42AM
1.39
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:48PM
0.26
7:57AM
0.21
8:22PM
0.17
8:28AM
0.15
8:52PM
0.11
8:57AM
0.11
9:20PM
0.07
9:24AM
0.11
9:47PM
0.07
9:50AM
0.13
10:13PM
0.10
10:16AM
0.17
10:38PM
0.15
10:42AM
0.24
Thu
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Sunrise--6:39--6:39--6:37--6:35--6:35--6:33--6:31
Sunset6:38--6:39--6:39--6:40--6:42--6:42--6:43--
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
----------2----------
Temp. °C151418212016161416161415161415171517201517
Feels °C (?)111116181813141415141313131111121114161113
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for Cape Town

  1. weather stationWind Update Continuing clean conditions at Van Riebeek (light winds from the SSW at Plattekloof Glen wx 23 km from Van Riebeek). 1.7m 11s groundswell from the SSW with a 0.7m 10s swell from the W. 2 swells combining so expect closeout sets.

    1 hour 11 minutes ago Van Riebeek
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23 km away, 1 h 11 min ago

6 km/h
SSW
0.0
14.5
Air / Water (°C)
Please reload the page to see if there are any updates.

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

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.

View detailed surf forecast for Van Riebeek at:
surf-forecast.com

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.

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