Elands Bay
South Africa · Southern Africa
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.4m SW
Wind: 7 km/h S (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: W
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:41Expected crowds
Prediction model v17amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 15°C water.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
Today's briefing
2.6m swell at 9s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 15°C.
AI-generated summary for Elands Bay. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Elands Bay
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 7am (score: 36). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Elands Bay.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Elands Bay
Elands Bay is an iconic, highly mechanical left-hand point break situated on the arid West Coast of South Africa. The geomorphology features a prominent rocky headland bordered by a dense, kelp-covered sandstone and boulder reef. This bathymetric structure perfectly intercepts deep-water south-westerly groundswells generated in the Roaring Forties. As the swell wraps around the point, it decelerates and steepens into an incredibly fast, peeling wall that frequently throws long, cylindrical barrel sections. The regional south-easterly wind blows directly offshore here, heavily grooming the face and retarding the lip. Due to the high velocity of the wave, the presence of thick kelp beds, the frigid Atlantic water temperatures, and the requirement for rapid, technical tube riding, Elands Bay is strictly an advanced surfing location. It demands excellent paddle fitness and precise down-the-line speed generation to connect the outside take-off zone through the inside bowl without getting outrun by the lip.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Elands Bay. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Elands Bay?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.