
Surf Forecasts:
Yellowsands Beach surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, SSW swell with 2,491 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Yellowsands Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Yellowsands Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Yellowsands Beach in the next 16 days are 2.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Yellowsands Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards at Yellowsands Beach, a river mouth setup that’s exposed to the swell. The water is sitting at 63.7°, which is about 4.7° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a notable chill, so you’ll be wanting a thicker wetsuit or a bootie if you’re sensitive to it.
The action kicks off on Wednesday the 22nd with clean, glassy conditions. Wednesday morning sees a 3.9ft SSW swell rolling in at a solid 13 seconds, giving us long, lined-up waves. The wind is dead calm – glassy as it gets. The combined energy is sitting at 792 (moderate), and the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a standout session. The afternoon dips a little in size to 3.3ft, but still glassy with the same long period. Smooth, clean, and uncrowded if you’re early.
Thursday the 23rd stays good. Morning offers a 3.9ft SSW swell with a 12-second period and a light SW cross-offshore breeze, keeping the faces clean. Combined energy is 668 (moderate). The afternoon sees a drop in size to 3.0ft and the wind picks up to 12 mph, so the quality will fade. Get out in the morning.
Friday the 24th brings a big jump in size. The morning session has 8.2ft SSW swell – that’s hefty, borderline for anyone but experienced surfers. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s punchy, and combined energy rockets to 3472 (strong). The wind is a light SW cross-off, keeping it clean. This is a big, powerful day. The afternoon drops to 7.5ft but with a very long 16-second period, which at a river mouth can mean waves that wall up and stand tall. The wind is light and cross-shore, so expect some texture but still a real draw for those who can handle it.
Saturday the 25th is a step down. The morning has 4.3ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore from the ENE at just 3 mph, so it’s a little messy. By afternoon, the wind picks up to 12 mph and it’s choppy – poor conditions, steer clear.
Sunday the 26th is not great. The morning has 3.0ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. The afternoon sees a shift to a 5.2ft short-period ENE swell at 8 seconds – that’s weak and wind-affected, just a messy jumble. Not worth the paddle.
Monday the 27th is a return to cleaner conditions. The morning has 3.0ft SSW swell at 13 seconds with a light SW cross-off breeze, smooth and clean. Combined energy is low at 426 (weak), but it’s a fun small-wave day. The afternoon is similar at 3.0ft with a lighter SSW cross-off, still clean.
Tuesday the 28th is another standout. The morning brings a 8.2ft S swell at a short 9-second period, but combined energy is a solid 2142 (strong). The wind is a light WSW cross-off, keeping it clean. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a powerful, clean day for the confident crew. The afternoon sees a big 4.9ft SSW swell with a very long 17-second period, but the wind goes cross-shore and it’s a bit more textured – still a good option for the late session.
The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag with onshore winds and messy conditions, but then we hit a stretch of size.
On the 31st (Friday), the morning sees a 3.9ft SSW swell at 14 seconds with a light WSW cross-off, clean and very good. The afternoon is glassy with a 3.0ft SSW swell, a nice small-wave glass-off.
The 1st of August is a write-off with onshore winds and short-period junk.
Now, the 2nd of August (Sunday) is a big one. The morning has a 9.8ft ENE swell at 8 seconds – that’s a short-period, powerful, wall of water. The combined energy is 1952 (strong
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
461 | 339 | 386 | 447 | 232 | 2248 | 1806 | 2491 | 936 | 660 | 500 | 523 | 258 | 308 | 305 | 307 | 227 | 300 | 1017 | 1216 | 1603 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 9:00AM1.03m | 9:46PM1.13m | 10:35AM0.96m | 11:25PM1.08m | 12:34PM0.98m | 00:57AM1.11m | 1:46PM1.07m | 1:55AM1.20m | 2:31PM1.18m | 2:37AM1.30m | 3:06PM1.29m | 3:11AM1.39m | 3:37PM1.39m | 3:42AM1.46m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:00PM0.58m | 4:20AM0.64m | 4:26PM0.66m | 6:10AM0.64m | 6:23PM0.66m | 7:31AM0.56m | 7:40PM0.58m | 8:19AM0.45m | 8:27PM0.49m | 8:55AM0.35m | 9:04PM0.39m | 9:25AM0.25m | 9:36PM0.31m | ||||||||
7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 23 | 27 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | E 7 | SSW 12 | ENE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 7 | S 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
461 | 339 | 386 | 447 | 232 | 1306 | 318 | 2491 | 936 | 660 | 500 | 523 | 124 | 195 | 246 | 307 | 227 | 112 | 653 | 1216 | 1063 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSW 18 | SE 11 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SSW 12 | S 16 | SSW 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | E 9 | E 9 |
325 | 282 | 205 | 167 | 140 | 83 | 961 | 43 | 243 | 170 | 142 | 78 | 258 | 190 | 305 | 115 | 72 | 300 | 441 | 39 | 42 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 6 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 12 | — | SE 11 | E 10 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SSW 16 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — |
6 | 20 | 29 | 54 | 40 | 15 | 387 | — | 29 | 2 | 38 | 2 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 52 | 46 | 31 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | SW 5 | SSW 4 | — | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
— | — | 11 | 37 | 73 | 2248 | 1806 | — | — | — | 21 | 53 | 222 | 308 | — | 32 | 11 | — | 1017 | 1177 | 1603 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 323 | 11 | 29 | 1 | 42 | 432 | 122 | 42 | 259 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Yellowsands Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Yellowsands Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Yellowsands Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Yellowsands Beach 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 (Yellowsands Beach) 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 Yellowsands Beach 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Yellowsands Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, consider staying in East London which is 27 km (17 miles) away. Other places in and around Eastern Cape - Wild Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Butterworth which is 58 km (36 miles) away, Stutterheim and Bisho.










