The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 10 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
16.3° C
0.9° 

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 10 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with 3,609 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s 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 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 11th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Best Surf 5AM (Tue 11th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Tue 11th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for The Heads over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the water temp is sittin’ at about 61°, which is just a touch under where we’d normally be for this time of year. Nothin’ to write home about, but it’s that little extra chill that’ll remind ya it’s August.

The first week is a bit of a mixed bag, honestly. Through Monday the 10th and most of Tuesday the 11th, we’re gettin’ a decent amount of swell in the water – around 7 ft to 8 ft with a SSE to ESE direction – but the wind's being a real pain. A lot of cross and cross-on breeze, and that’s keepin’ things messy. The wave energy is ramped up though, with readings sittin’ around 1500 to 2000 in the combined energy department. But without clean wind, it’s not really callin’ my name for a paddle.

The real spark in this outlook starts to show on Thursday the 13th. The morning has a solid 5 ft of SSW groundswell pushin’ in with a long period of 19 seconds – that’s proper energy with a combined energy figure of 4408. Wind will be a clean cross-off from the NNE at 16 mph, so the lines should be smooth. The afternoon steps it up a notch: 6 ft of SW swell, 18-second period, and lighter ENE breezes at only 9 mph. That’s the best session of the week and a standout for sure. The Heads will be runnin' like a dream for an intermediate surfer, maybe a little big for a beginner. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get out there early if you can.

Friday the 14th is another beauty. Mornin’ glass-off vibes? Yep. Offshore wind from the NNE at 6 mph, and you’ve got 5 ft of SW groundswell with a long 16-second period. It’s clean and lined up. The afternoon is where it gets golden: glassy conditions with 4 ft of SW groundswell, 15-second period, and the wind goes near zilch from the ENE at 3 mph. This is the top pick of the whole run, in my opinion. Light crowds are possible, but the quality will speak for itself.

After Friday, we drift into smaller, choppier conditions for the weekend and into the start of the next week. Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are small – under 4 ft – with wind shiftin’ around and the sea gettin’ messy. Not a write-off, but it’s more of a grovel session.

Now, the big one. Around Thursday the 20th of August, the charts go nuts. We’re lookin’ at 15 ft on Thursday morning, blastin’ to 23 ft by the afternoon. That’s a serious amount of water, and the combined energy reads like a freight train – upwards of 11614 in the arvo. That’s a huge, powerful swell. But here’s the rub: it’s way too big for The Heads. The wind’s onshore too, and the wave comment says it plainly – it’s predicted to be too big for this break. Unless you’re a gun charger with a jetski, I’d give this a miss. Even the next day, Friday the 21st, keeps swell at 20 ft. Big, but not clean for The Heads.

Things start gettin’ back into the zone by Sunday the 23rd, with a cleaner SW groundswell at 7 ft and 17-second period. The real comeback though is Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th. Monday morning delivers 8 ft of SW swell with a 14-second period and clean, cross-off ENE airflow at 9 mph. That’s excellent for experienced surfers. Tuesday the 25th is the last gem – a perfect 8 ft of SW groundswell, 14-second period, and light offshore breezes from the north at 6 mph. Clean, lined up, and powerful. That’s your second standout in the long-range, though it’s further out so treat it as promising but not locked in.

If the swell gets bigger and winds stay average on the real big days, this setup might look more like a kite surfer’s playground than a paddle session, especially with the beach-sandbar setup.

So, to bottom-line it: for the first week, your best bet is Thursday the 13th afternoon and Friday the 14th. For the second week, keep an eye on Monday the 24th morning and Tuesday the 25th morning.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
4
2
2
3
2
1
!
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
1
2
2
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SW
11
3
SSW
11
2.1
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
23
1.5
SSW
20
1.7
SSW
18
3.5
E
9
1.5
SSW
19
1.9
SW
18
1.7
SW
16
1.6
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1172
2226
1362
853
933
1748
1877
1952
1694
2264
1456
1170
777
676
511
444
364
245
453
440
Wind (km/h)
15
ESE
10
ENE
20
E
25
E
20
ENE
20
E
25
E
15
NE
25
NNE
15
ENE
25
N
10
NNE
5
ENE
10
NNW
10
W
5
SE
10
N
15
WSW
5
WSW
5
WNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
off
cross
cross-on
off
cross
cross-on
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
8:26PM0.29m
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
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:11
7:09
7:09
7:07
7:07
7:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:55
5:57
5:58
 mm
4
2
Temp °C
13
13
14
15
13
16
20
15
21
26
24
24
27
23
20
24
22
21
19
15
Feels °C
9
10
10
10
8
12
14
10
16
22
19
21
25
20
18
23
19
19
17
14
  • 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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