Surf Forecasts:
Rock Wave surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, S swell with 2,839 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period with S 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 22) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rock Wave in the next 16 days are 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rock Wave over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’ve got on the cards for Rock Wave over the next couple of weeks.
The water temp is sitting at 65°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, but you’ll feel the difference if you’ve been in warmer water lately.
Right now, there’s a bit of a slow start. Friday afternoon the 21st has some small swell (4ft from the SSW) with a light breeze, but it’s borderline and the tide might mess with it. Not worth rushing out for. Saturday the 22nd is a write-off – messy onshore winds and a short-period chop that’s just ugly. Sunday the 23rd has a bit more size (8ft from the SW) but the wind is cross and the energy is messy; it’s more of a kitesurfing show than a surfing one.
Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are still mediocre – small, cross-onshore, and choppy. You’ll be scratching for a wave. Wednesday the 26th morning looks like the first real standout. We’ve got a solid 6ft groundswell from the S with a very long 16-second period (combined energy of 1796). The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but that long-period energy will give you some proper push. It’s a reef break, so that long period should wrap in nicely. The afternoon picks up to 8ft but the wind strengthens, making it sloppy. Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th are still decent with S swell around 5-6ft and long periods, but the wind is cross or cross-onshore and a bit fresh, so it’s not perfect.
Now, if you can wait, the real gem is Wednesday morning the 2nd of September. Clean conditions with a light offshore NNE breeze, 6ft from the E with a moderate energy (696), and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a rare call in this run. It’s a bit of a wait, but that’s the one to circle on the calendar. Just keep in mind, it’s two weeks out, so things could change.
The rest of the first week of September is mostly small or wind-affected, with a few pulses of size but poor wind. The 2nd is the one.
So, overall, there’s a lot of mediocrity and some real trash days, but if you’re patient, Wednesday morning the 2nd of September at Rock Wave is your best bet – clean, fun waves on a long period. Get in early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 12 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 494 | 397 | 200 | 645 | 715 | 1365 | 467 | 324 | 127 | 213 | 666 | 1077 | 886 | 1003 | 1787 | 2722 | 1109 | 728 | 1149 | 1380 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:07PM0.97m | 12:31PM0.91m | 00:55AM1.03m | 1:46PM1.05m | 1:49AM1.16m | 2:21PM1.19m | 2:24AM1.29m | 2:49PM1.34m | 2:53AM1.40m | 3:15PM1.47m | 3:20AM1.50m | 3:41PM1.58m | 3:47AM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:48PM0.72m | 5:33AM0.73m | 6:24PM0.74m | 7:32AM0.61m | 7:43PM0.62m | 8:09AM0.47m | 8:20PM0.49m | 8:37AM0.33m | 8:50PM0.36m | 9:03AM0.21m | 9:17PM0.25m | 9:28AM0.11m | 9:45PM0.15m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | ENE 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 16 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 494 | 397 | 198 | 17 | 364 | 471 | 467 | 324 | 127 | 213 | 666 | 1077 | 886 | 1003 | 1787 | 2722 | 1109 | 646 | 1149 | 773 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | S 14 | — | SSW 12 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | — | S 16 | S 16 | S 11 | S 16 |
| kJ | 12 | 12 | 200 | — | 240 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 107 | 44 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 432 | 728 | 311 | 1380 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 6 | — | E 8 | — | — | SE 12 | SSE 12 | E 10 | SSE 12 | S 11 | SE 13 | E 9 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 38 | — | 5 | — | — | 6 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 3 | SW 2 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 2 | 645 | 715 | 1365 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 72 | 245 | 760 | 1437 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 434 | 183 | 31 | 454 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 31 | 0 | 162 | 434 | 434 | 292 | 321 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Rock Wave 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.
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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