Surf Forecasts:
The Heads surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 6,131 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. 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 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, gather 'round. Rusty here, and I've been staring at the charts for The Heads. Let's get straight into it.
The weekend kicks off with a solid pulse of SW groundswell, but the real sweet spot is Saturday morning. We're looking at 8ft of SW swell with a 13-second period, and the wind is dead calm – glassy as. The water's sitting at 63°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises. The combined energy is pumping hard at 2,144, but this is 8ft, so it's a big boy's wave. Not for the faint-hearted. This is your standout for the first week.
Saturday afternoon the wind swings ESE and gets a bit cross-on, so the surface gets a little lumpy. Still surfable, but that morning window is the one.
Sunday morning, the 26th of July, is another beauty. The swell drops a touch to 7ft, but the wind is light NE and glassy again. Clean lines, excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Sunday afternoon stays glassy with a light ESE breeze, and the swell eases to 6ft. Very good surf.
Monday the 27th gets messy. The wind picks up from the W and then SE, bringing in cross-chop and a bit of rain. The swell jumps to 10ft on Monday afternoon, with a 17-second period, which is a seriously long groundswell. That much period can make a beach break like The Heads a bit unruly, plus the energy is through the roof at 5,824. It's a powerful, tricky day.
Tuesday and Wednesday see onshore winds and a lot of bumpy conditions. Wednesday morning, the 29th, is a bright spot though. Cleaned up nicely with a cross-off ENE breeze and a solid 6ft of SW swell. Good for a paddle.
Thursday the 30th morning is another glassy one, dead calm, with a smaller 5ft SW swell. The energy is a moderate 987. It's a good, clean option for a less hectic session.
Now, looking ahead to the end of the month and into August. Friday the 31st of July morning is a standout window. We've got a big 10ft E swell, but it's a short-period 9-second wind swell, and the wind is light cross-off. Clean, but with that short period, it won't be as powerful as the groundswell. The energy is high at 3,162, but that short period means it might be a bit walled up and sectiony at The Heads.
The first week of August is a weird mix. There's a decent SSW groundswell on Sunday the 2nd with a massive 18-second period, but it's a cross-on wind. Then Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of August look promising for the experts. Wednesday has a clean offshore wind from the NNW with a 5ft to 6ft SW swell. But Thursday the 6th gets proper big. 10ft SW swell, with a fresh offshore wind at 22 mph, and then 12ft in the afternoon. That's way over 8ft – experts only. The energy is a staggering 7,345. It's a monster.
The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. The 8th of August Saturday morning is glassy with a 8ft SW swell, which is a solid option. The 9th of August Sunday is a write-off with a fresh breeze and rain, so don't even bother.
Best on offer? It's a toss-up between the Saturday morning (25th July) and the Friday morning (31st July). That Saturday morning, with the glassy, calm conditions and the 8ft SW groundswell, is about as clean as it gets for a solid session. The Friday morning at the end of the month is a close second, but that short-period E swell might not have the same shape.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2067 | 2207 | 1824 | 1180 | 897 | 1185 | 1281 | 4812 | 4872 | 2378 | 2480 | 1858 | 1164 | 828 | 689 | 700 | 854 | 840 | 1666 | 1168 | 1727 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:43PM1.21m | 1:50AM1.33m | 2:24PM1.32m | 2:30AM1.44m | 2:59PM1.44m | 3:04AM1.53m | 3:30PM1.55m | 3:35AM1.61m | 3:59PM1.64m | 4:04AM1.66m | 4:28PM1.71m | 4:33AM1.68m | 4:56PM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:43PM0.63m | 8:16AM0.47m | 8:26PM0.52m | 8:50AM0.36m | 9:01PM0.42m | 9:20AM0.26m | 9:32PM0.33m | 9:48AM0.18m | 10:03PM0.26m | 10:15AM0.12m | 10:32PM0.22m | 10:42AM0.08m | 11:02PM0.19m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — |
 | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SW 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 2067 | 2207 | 1824 | 1180 | 897 | 1185 | 1281 | 4812 | 4872 | 2378 | 2480 | 1858 | 1164 | 828 | 247 | 287 | 854 | 840 | 1016 | 1168 | 1271 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | — | — | SSE 7 | E 9 | ESE 6 | — | SW 13 | SW 13 | ESE 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 77 | 79 | 68 | 357 | 334 | 16 | 463 | 992 | — | — | 65 | 6 | 136 | — | 689 | 700 | 253 | 816 | 480 | 374 | 236 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | — | — | S 12 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 38 | 38 | 17 | 8 | 20 | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 10 | — | — | W 3 | SW 6 | — | E 8 | SE 8 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | E 7 | — | — | — | E 9 | — | E 10 |
| kJ | — | — | 80 | — | — | 11 | 64 | — | 11 | 371 | 107 | 155 | 219 | 295 | 422 | — | — | — | 1666 | — | 1727 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 483 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 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.
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