The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 13 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
16.9° C
0.4° 

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 13 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,580 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with ESE 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 Monday (Jul 13) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Mon 13th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Best Surf 8PM (Wed 15th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 16s
Most Powerful 2AM (Thu 16th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright mates, Rusty here with the outlook in feet and miles.

Things start slow, with nothing to write home about until Monday afternoon, 13 July. That first wave is a small SSW swell around 3ft with a 10-second period and glassy conditions. The combined energy is weak (395), but it’s clean and rideable. Water temp is 62°, dead average for this time of year.

The real deal kicks in on Thursday, 16 July. Thursday morning at The Heads is looking like a classic. A solid 8ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and glassy. That’s a proper groundswell with moderate to strong energy (2742). Too big for beginners, but for experienced surfers, it’s a dream. Thursday afternoon holds with glassy conditions and a 8ft SW swell.

Friday, 17 July, has a bit of cross-chop in the morning with a 7ft SW swell, but the afternoon cleans up glassy with a 8ft SW swell and 11-second period. Nice.

Then we get a quiet spell through the weekend. Tuesday, 21 July, is the next big standout. A 7ft SSW swell, a very long 16-second period, and glassy. The combined energy is strong (3054). That long period groundswell will be best at the point or reef – the sandbar might get a bit straight with that length.

Wednesday, 22 July, morning is glassy with an 8ft SSW swell, but by the afternoon it’s blown out to 13ft, which is way too big for this spot.

Friday, 24 July, morning offers a clean 7ft S swell with a 12-second period, but the afternoon gets wrecked by a 30 km/h cross-onshore wind, making it lumpy.

The final week winds down, with a glassy session on Tuesday, 28 July, offering a 5ft SW swell and 13-second period, but the energy is fading (993).

The best of the bunch: Thursday, 16 July morning and Tuesday, 21 July morning. Both are glassy, solid, and for experienced surfers only. Crowds are possible at The Heads, so get in before the pack.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
2
1
3
4
4
4
3
2
4
2
2
1
3
2
2
3
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
SSW
10
1.5
ESE
9
1.4
ESE
8
1.5
ESE
9
1.2
E
9
1
E
9
1.1
SW
17
3
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
2.3
SW
13
1.8
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
2.3
SW
11
1.8
S
13
2.1
S
12
2
S
12
1.7
S
11
1.3
SW
13
1.5
SW
12
1.8
SW
11
1.7
SW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
218
328
268
344
235
180
701
3580
2670
1890
1086
1180
1302
1087
1311
1151
733
519
635
807
611
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
5
NW
5
WSW
5
WSW
5
NW
5
W
5
SSW
5
N
5
NNE
5
S
10
WNW
15
W
5
SW
15
E
15
E
15
E
10
N
10
W
10
WSW
10
NW
10
ESE
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
3:08PM1.65m
3:23AM1.77m
3:53PM1.76m
4:08AM1.79m
4:37PM1.83m
4:50AM1.77m
5:18PM1.85m
5:30AM1.70m
5:58PM1.81m
6:09AM1.60m
6:37PM1.73m
6:47AM1.48m
7:15PM1.61m
7:27AM1.34m
Low Tide
9:15PM0.19m
9:43AM0.05m
10:03PM0.12m
10:24AM0.00m
10:48PM0.10m
11:03AM0.00m
11:31PM0.12m
11:41AM0.05m
00:12AM0.20m
12:17PM0.14m
00:52AM0.30m
12:52PM0.26m
1:32AM0.42m
1:29PM0.40m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:31
7:30
7:30
7:30
7:28
7:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:38
 mm
Temp °C
19
16
18
18
14
17
18
15
19
21
16
17
17
16
17
19
17
21
19
14
16
Feels °C
17
15
17
16
13
15
16
14
18
20
15
14
15
16
14
16
15
18
17
13
15
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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