The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

Issued: 1 pm 25 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.4° C

Normal for this time of year

The Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The Heads surf forecast from 25 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 29 Jun, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 29 Jun, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 6,818 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 25 Jun, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Heads this week:

The surf forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 25) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 16 days are 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jun 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 02) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 25th Jun)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 29th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 29th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
1
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
4
3
!
3
4
4
4
2
3
2
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
SW
13
1.4
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.3
SSW
15
1.9
SW
14
1.9
SW
14
2
SW
13
2.4
SW
13
2.5
SW
12
3.5
SW
16
3
SW
15
3
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
1.7
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.5
SSW
11
1.9
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1247
1055
3211
3294
2178
1491
1347
1346
1952
1860
6818
4421
3331
2317
1565
1249
850
683
573
1235
689
Wind (km/h)
5
SE
15
NW
5
ENE
10
E
10
N
15
W
5
W
0
NW
5
N
5
WSW
20
W
10
SW
0
W
10
ENE
5
ENE
10
E
10
NNE
5
W
10
WSW
5
SW
20
WNW
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
cross
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
1:11AM1.38m
1:49PM1.29m
1:57AM1.43m
2:30PM1.37m
2:37AM1.49m
3:07PM1.44m
3:13AM1.54m
3:41PM1.50m
3:47AM1.58m
4:14PM1.55m
4:19AM1.60m
4:47PM1.58m
4:51AM1.59m
Low Tide
6:55PM0.60m
7:41AM0.47m
7:46PM0.54m
8:21AM0.40m
8:29PM0.48m
8:57AM0.33m
9:07PM0.41m
9:31AM0.28m
9:42PM0.36m
10:03AM0.23m
10:15PM0.34m
10:34AM0.20m
10:48PM0.33m
11:04AM0.19m
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:28
5:29
5:29
 mm
3
2
4
1
8
1
Temp °C
21
19
21
24
22
21
19
15
21
22
17
14
13
13
16
18
16
21
22
15
17
Feels °C
21
19
22
24
21
18
18
15
20
20
17
12
12
12
15
17
15
20
20
13
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
SW
13
1.5
SW
12
2.5
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.3
SSW
15
1.9
SW
14
1.9
SW
14
2
SW
13
2.4
SW
13
2.5
SW
12
3.5
SW
16
3
SW
15
3
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.9
SW
13
1.7
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.5
SSW
11
1.9
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
13
Energy kJ
1247
634
3211
3294
2178
1491
1347
1346
1952
1860
6818
4421
3331
2317
1565
1249
850
683
573
1235
689
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SE
6
1.4
SSW
16
0.9
SE
7
0.9
SE
7
0.8
ESE
7
0.7
ESE
7
0.6
ESE
7
0.6
SW
6
0.4
SSW
20
1.3
SSW
18
0.2
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.4
SSE
6
0.8
SSW
15
0.3
E
8
0.3
ESE
8
Energy kJ
91
1055
75
79
59
47
43
24
149
986
6
14
14
15
242
13
13
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SE
6
0.6
E
6
0.5
SW
4
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
ESE
9
0.3
E
9
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SE
6
0.3
SE
6
0.1
SE
6
Energy kJ
75
29
7
17
16
26
14
73
11
6
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
6
0.3
ESE
4
0.9
WSW
4
0.9
W
7
Energy kJ
40
4
31
83
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
7
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
Distance (km)
0
7
0
8
0
7
0
0
0
7
8
8
0
0
0
8
0
7
7
7
28
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
7
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
8
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
6
8
5
6
5
8
7
5
8
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
4
5
  • 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
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Information about the The Heads Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for The Heads provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Heads can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Heads 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 (The Heads) 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 The Heads 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 Garden Route? If you are looking for accommodation near The Heads, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Garden Route, consider staying in Knysna which is 4 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Garden Route where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Plettenberg Bay which is 28 km (17 miles) away, George, Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn.

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