Surf Forecasts:
Rock Wave surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with 6,090 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rock Wave this week:
The surf forecast for Rock Wave over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rock Wave in the next 16 days are 4.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rock Wave over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the cards for Rock Wave.
We’re looking at a pretty long stretch ahead, and honestly, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. The combo of cross-shore winds and choppy conditions means you’re better off staying on the beach for the first part of the run. It’s not until the 4th of August that things start to turn the corner.
The real standout, the one you want to circle on your calendar, lands on the 13th of August. Thursday morning at Rock Wave will be firing. We’re looking at a solid 8ft swell from the SSW, with a nice long period of 12 seconds. That’s real groundswell energy, and with the combined energy of all swells coming in at a meaty 1790, it’s got some serious punch. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the north, which means the waves are going to be clean, with that proper face to them. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers; the kind of morning that makes you forget about all the flat days. The only thing to keep in mind is that longer period SSW swell like this can run a bit straight at a beach break, but Rock Wave is a reef, so it should handle that energy beautifully, offering up some proper-shaped lines.
The next best option is the morning of the 9th of August. It’s a bit smaller at 8ft, still from the SSW, with a 12-second period and 1795 combined energy, but it’s a touch more marginal. The wind is a clean cross-offshore, so it’s still worth a paddle, but the forecast is a bit less certain than that golden Thursday later in the window.
There’s a little gem on the 15th of August, Saturday morning. Only 4ft from the SSW and a 10-second period, but the wind is completely glassy – dead calm. That’s flat water, perfect lines, and the combined energy of 545 is moderate but enough for a fun session on a smaller board. It’s not the big stuff, but it’ll be a joy to surf.
Before that, the 5th of August Wednesday morning is a good one for the smaller waves. It’s a clean 3ft swell from the east with a 9-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy of 212 is weak, but it’ll be a fun, clean little wave for a longboard or a fish.
The 13th of August really is the one to plan for though. That’s the day the stars align for a proper session at Rock Wave, with the kind of power and shape that gets the heart rate up.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 531 | 506 | 485 | 385 | 556 | 663 | 1422 | 1307 | 1100 | 776 | 720 | 523 | 383 | 341 | 240 | 169 | 169 | 378 | 281 | 6090 | 2005 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:03PM1.60m | 5:07AM1.54m | 5:31PM1.62m | 5:36AM1.52m | 6:01PM1.61m | 6:07AM1.46m | 6:32PM1.56m | 6:41AM1.38m | 7:09PM1.49m | 7:21AM1.27m | 7:53PM1.38m | 8:12AM1.14m | 8:56PM1.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:48AM0.06m | 11:06PM0.17m | 11:15AM0.05m | 11:36PM0.17m | 11:43AM0.07m | 00:08AM0.20m | 12:13PM0.13m | 00:43AM0.25m | 12:47PM0.21m | 1:24AM0.34m | 1:26PM0.32m | 2:15AM0.44m | 2:19PM0.45m | 3:32AM0.54m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 26 | 30 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 23 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 14 |
| kJ | 531 | 506 | 485 | 385 | 556 | 663 | 1422 | 1307 | 1100 | 776 | 720 | 523 | 383 | 341 | 240 | 169 | 169 | 378 | 281 | 3251 | 2005 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 |
| kJ | 277 | 192 | 86 | 39 | 28 | 39 | 31 | 30 | 35 | 84 | 71 | 65 | 57 | 56 | 33 | 13 | 64 | 133 | 81 | 61 | 45 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | S 13 | SSW 15 | S 9 | S 10 | S 13 | — | — | — | S 18 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | NE 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | 13 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 14 | — | — | — | 6 | 30 | 99 | 6 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | ENE 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | SW 3 | SW 5 | — | — | — | SW 7 | SSW 13 | NE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | 31 | 4 | 26 | 19 | — | 61 | 15 | 14 | 53 | 58 | — | 3 | 23 | — | — | — | 192 | 6090 | 12 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 458 | 510 | 0 | 103 | 216 | 0 | 103 | 292 | 0 | 40 | 275 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 257 | 31 | 257 | 321 | 384 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rock Wave Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rock Wave provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rock Wave can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rock Wave 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 (Rock Wave) 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 Rock Wave 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 Rock Wave, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, consider staying in East London which is 25 km (16 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 60 km (37 miles) away, Stutterheim and Bisho.
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