The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 01 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.2° C
0.0° 

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 1 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 13,585 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 16 days are 6.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 6th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 14s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 8th Aug)20ft (6.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up for The Heads, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag with some tricky winds, but the real magic is waiting for us if we’re patient.

The forecast kicks off with a decent 6 ft swell from the ESE on Sunday morning, and with the wind going glassy, it’s clean as a whistle. The energy is moderate (802), so you’ll feel it but it won’t be a paddle battle. This is a nice way to start the week, but the afternoon gets a bit messy with a light cross-shore, so get out early.

Monday morning, the 3rd of August, is looking prime. The swell holds at 6 ft from the ESE, the period stretches to 11 seconds, and the wind is glass again. The energy is stronger (1331), and the waves will have more shape and push. This is the standout of the first few days. The afternoon sees a little cross-shore bump, but morning is your window.

Tuesday the 4th, the swell drops to 4 ft from the SW, but the wind goes offshore from the North at 15 km/h. The waves will be clean and lined up. It’s not big, but for a morning session on a longboard or a fish, it’ll be fun. The energy is still moderate (739).

Wednesday the 5th brings a bit of a change. The swell is small in the morning (3 ft) but the period jumps to 15 seconds, which is proper groundswell. The wind is cross-onshore though, so it’ll be a little bumpy. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 6 ft with a 16-second period and the energy is pumping (1744), but again, the wind is on it. It’s not the cleanest, but there’s serious power in the water.

Now, Thursday the 6th is where it gets heavy. The swell is 10 ft from the SW, with a 13-second period. The energy is huge (3205). This is expert territory. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bit of a battle, and the waves will be big, raw, and messy. Not for the faint of heart.

Friday the 7th of August is the real highlight. The swell drops to a still-very-serious 8 ft from the SW, with a 14-second period. The energy is massive (2920), but the wind goes cross-offshore from the NE at 10 km/h. The forecast says this is excellent for experienced surfers, and I’m calling it: this is the best session on offer. The waves will be big, powerful, and clean. This is a serious paddle for a serious reward. Get out there if you’ve got the nerve.

The weekend of the 8th and 9th is a write-off for most. The swell is way too big (12 ft to 20 ft) and the wind is onshore or cross-shore. The energy numbers are ridiculous (up to 12216), but it’s just a washing machine out there. Kite surfers might have a field day, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.

The following week has a couple of interesting windows. Monday the 10th is a bit of a drop-off. Tuesday the 11th of August is another good one. The swell is 6 ft from the SW with a 14-second period, and the wind is glassy. The energy is high (1514), and it’s clean. A solid choice for a Tuesday morning.

The 14th and 15th are also promising. Friday the 14th has 8 ft from the SW with a light cross-offshore wind, and Saturday the 15th has a glassy 8 ft from the SW. Both are in the “excellent for experienced” category. The 16th (Sunday) looks great too, with offshore winds and a 8 ft SSW swell.

So, to sum it up: the best of the best is Friday the 7th of August morning. The swell is big, the period is long, and the wind is clean. If you miss that, Tuesday the 11th and Saturday the 15th are your next best bets. The rest of the time, you’ll be picking through wind chop or dealing with huge, messy surf.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
4
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
5
2
3
4
4
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
ESE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.8
ESE
9
1.9
ESE
12
1.8
ESE
11
1.6
ESE
11
1.6
ESE
11
1.2
SW
12
1.2
SW
11
1.1
ESE
10
1
SSW
15
1.8
SW
16
3
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
1.9
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
576
455
455
921
731
622
541
383
350
250
449
1493
3889
3113
2483
1588
2873
2594
2191
Wind (km/h)
10
N
0
WNW
5
ESE
5
N
0
ESE
10
E
10
NNE
15
N
15
WSW
5
SSW
5
SSW
10
SSW
5
NE
15
SSW
10
SW
10
NE
10
NE
5
SSE
10
WSW
Wind State
off
glassy
cross
off
glassy
cross
off
off
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
High Tide
5:31AM1.64m
5:54PM1.75m
6:03AM1.58m
6:27PM1.70m
6:39AM1.49m
7:04PM1.62m
7:21AM1.37m
7:51PM1.50m
8:19AM1.23m
9:00PM1.37m
9:56AM1.14m
10:48PM1.31m
Low Tide
11:32PM0.20m
11:37AM0.11m
00:05AM0.23m
12:08PM0.18m
00:40AM0.29m
12:42PM0.27m
1:23AM0.37m
1:24PM0.39m
2:18AM0.48m
2:22PM0.53m
3:41AM0.58m
3:58PM0.63m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:16
7:16
7:15
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:51
 mm
2
Temp °C
19
22
24
19
23
24
21
28
30
18
20
19
14
16
14
13
18
22
17
Feels °C
16
20
22
17
21
21
17
24
26
17
19
17
14
14
12
13
16
21
16
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  • 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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