
Surf Forecasts:
The Heads surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 3,647 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 2.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s break this down.
The Heads are a sandbar setup, fairly consistent, and we’ve got a solid block of surf coming through, but you gotta pick your windows. The water temp is at 62°F, which is about normal for this time of year – nothing wild.
Okay, so Monday the 10th kicks it off, but honestly, it’s a write-off. We’ve got 8ft of SW swell, but it’s coming with rain and a moderate breeze onshore, so it’s a messy, marginal mess. Score it as a miss.
Tuesday the 11th doesn’t get much better. The swell drops a touch to 7ft from the SSW, but we’ve got a moderate cross-shore wind that’s just chopping it all up. Not worth getting wet.
Now, Wednesday the 12th morning is the first real standout. The swell sits at 5ft from the SSW, but the period jumps to 20 seconds – that’s a proper, long-period groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, leaving it clean. The combined energy is a solid 2523 (moderate wave energy), so there’s push behind it. This one’s for experienced surfers; the longer period will set up nicely on this sandbar, but expect longer lulls between sets. It’s the best on offer so far.
Thursday the 13th looks good too, with clean conditions off a gentle cross-offshore breeze and 6ft to 7ft swell from the SSW/SW, but Wednesday morning is the pick.
Friday the 14th is a gem. Morning has 5ft of SW swell with a light offshore wind – clean, fun waves. Then Friday afternoon goes glassy, with the wind dropping to zero and 4ft of clean SW groundswell. That’s the kind of session you remember. The combined energy is 1078 (weak to moderate), but the conditions make it punch above its weight. Crowds *sometimes* show here, so that’s a heads-up.
Saturday the 15th keeps the glassy trend in the afternoon, with 4ft from the SW. It’s small but clean. Sunday the 16th has another glassy afternoon window.
Then we hit a rough patch. Monday the 17th brings a jump to 8-8ft SW swell, but with cross and cross-onshore winds, it’s lumpy. Tuesday the 18th is similar but smaller. Wednesday the 19th through Thursday the 20th is poor – rain, choppy winds, and weak energy. A real gap of a few days with nothing to recommend.
But hold tight. Friday the 21st morning is another standout. The swell jumps to 10ft from the ESE, period 9 seconds, with a light cross-offshore breeze leaving it clean. The combined energy is 1856 (moderate). That’s a solid, clean, powerful wave. At 10ft, it’s definitely expert territory – too much for beginners – and the shorter period means it’ll be a bit lumpy at the sandbar, but the wind will hold it open. This is the best wave of the whole period.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd drop back to marginal or onshore conditions.
Then Monday the 24th sees another pulse: 10ft from the SW with a moderate cross-shore breeze. Combined energy is a hefty 4224-4242, which is strong wave energy. It’s rideable but a bit cross-chop.
Finally, Tuesday the 25th gets big: 12ft from the SW with a gentle cross-shore breeze. The combined energy hits 4847 – very strong. The file says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so that’s strictly for the brave and skilled only. Definitely expert zone.
So the true standouts? Wednesday 12th morning for that long-period, clean groundswell, and Friday 21st morning for the biggest, cleanest swell of the run. Call ‘em as I see ‘em.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 15°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 23 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | E 9 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1523 | 1172 | 3647 | 1398 | 789 | 744 | 1748 | 1877 | 1978 | 2001 | 2600 | 1456 | 979 | 788 | 598 | 465 | 418 | 321 | 465 | 478 | 743 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | glassy | off | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:17PM1.54m | 2:33AM1.66m | 3:01PM1.71m | 3:16AM1.75m | 3:41PM1.84m | 3:55AM1.80m | 4:18PM1.92m | 4:31AM1.80m | 4:52PM1.93m | 5:05AM1.75m | 5:26PM1.88m | 5:37AM1.66m | 5:57PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:06AM0.28m | 8:26PM0.29m | 8:51AM0.13m | 9:12PM0.15m | 9:30AM0.03m | 9:53PM0.06m | 10:05AM-0.03m | 10:31PM0.03m | 10:39AM-0.04m | 11:06PM0.05m | 11:10AM0.01m | 11:38PM0.12m | 11:40AM0.10m | 00:10AM0.22m | |||||||
7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | |
mm | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 28 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 16 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SE 8 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SW 18 | ESE 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SW 13 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 14 |
1523 | 1172 | 3647 | 1398 | 789 | 270 | 1748 | 1877 | 1000 | 708 | 2600 | 547 | 393 | 290 | 205 | 205 | 173 | 321 | 251 | 269 | 743 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | S 10 | — | SE 8 | SSW 26 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | S 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 10 |
27 | 783 | — | 569 | 65 | 379 | 291 | 172 | 1978 | 2001 | 2 | 1456 | 979 | 788 | 598 | 465 | 418 | 136 | 465 | 478 | 225 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | SSW 23 | SSE 9 | S 10 | SW 10 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 4 | SSW 20 |
— | 497 | — | — | — | 744 | 28 | 30 | 38 | 875 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 264 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | — | E 8 | — | SE 8 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | — | ESE 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — | — |
147 | — | 149 | — | 682 | 396 | 456 | 1107 | 1698 | — | 494 | 822 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 387 | 26 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











