Surf Forecasts:
The Heads surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SSW swell with 7,454 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way for The Heads, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The water is sitting at 64°F which is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.
The real standout is Tuesday morning, July 21st. Glassy conditions, a 7ft SSW groundswell running at a long 14 seconds, and the combined energy is pumping at 1949. That’s a serious amount of juice. The Heads is a sandbar setup, so that long period might make the waves a bit straight at times, but with zero wind and clean conditions, it’s going to be firing for experienced surfers. The swell direction is SSE-optimum, so this south-southwest energy is a bit off, but the quality of the forecast makes it the pick of the bunch.
The next highlight is Saturday morning, July 25th. Another glassy morning, with 8ft of SSW groundswell at 14 seconds. Combined energy hits 2401. The wind is slight air, practically glass, so the surf will be clean and powerful. This one’s also for the experienced crew.
We’ve got a big one on Friday, July 24th, with 12ft SSWest swell at 16 seconds and combined energy roaring at 6659. But that’s way too big for The Heads—only for experts and even then, it’s pushing it. The wind is light cross-shore, so it’s not a total washout, but the size is the main story.
Sunday, July 26th delivers a couple of nice sessions. The morning has 7ft SW swell with offshore wind from the north, so clean lines. The afternoon goes glassy with 6ft SW swell. Both are solid picks for a fun day.
Tuesday, July 28th afternoon looks interesting: 5ft SSW groundswell with a very long 15-second period, clean cross-offshore wind, and combined energy at 2005. That’s a good option for a late session if you can handle the rain showers.
Thursday, July 30th morning is another clean one with 6ft SW swell and cross-offshore ENE wind.
Later in the run, Friday, July 31st morning has 12ft SSW swell again—too big for most. And Saturday, August 1st morning shows 8ft S swell with cross-offshore wind, but the energy is a bit messy.
There’s a gap from the afternoon of August 1st through to the end of the forecast where the quality drops off. The wind turns onshore, periods get shorter, and the surf becomes marginal at best. August 4th has a 5ft SSW groundswell with a very long 17-second period, but strong onshore wind ruins it.
Overall, the best windows are Tuesday the 21st and Saturday the 25th, both in the morning. Get out there when it’s glassy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 792 | 371 | 380 | 1582 | 2668 | 1942 | 1319 | 1129 | 511 | 1022 | 2077 | 7454 | 6609 | 4723 | 3456 | 2368 | 2576 | 1568 | 1200 | 944 | 1150 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:56PM1.47m | 8:12AM1.21m | 8:44PM1.33m | 9:14AM1.10m | 9:54PM1.22m | 10:58AM1.05m | 11:34PM1.19m | 12:41PM1.10m | 00:56AM1.24m | 1:43PM1.21m | 1:50AM1.33m | 2:24PM1.32m | 2:30AM1.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:29PM0.40m | 2:16AM0.53m | 2:10PM0.55m | 3:12AM0.63m | 3:07PM0.67m | 4:36AM0.69m | 4:43PM0.75m | 6:22AM0.67m | 6:36PM0.72m | 7:32AM0.58m | 7:43PM0.63m | 8:16AM0.47m | 8:26PM0.52m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 25 | 29 | 22 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 22 | 26 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 10 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | ESE 12 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 792 | 315 | 380 | 1582 | 2668 | 1942 | 1319 | 1129 | 511 | 1022 | 94 | 7454 | 6609 | 4723 | 3456 | 2368 | 2576 | 1568 | 1200 | 944 | 1150 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SW 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | ESE 12 | S 22 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 5 | SSW 15 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 319 | 371 | 262 | 359 | 265 | 222 | 186 | 157 | 486 | 127 | 9 | 54 | 50 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 47 | 34 | 9 | 242 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | E 10 | — | — | E 4 | S 15 | ESE 12 | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 10 | ESE 5 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 16 | 182 | 291 | 8 | — | — | 5 | 110 | 175 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 10 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | NW 3 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — | W 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 14 | 3 | 2077 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 29 | 8 | 11 | 350 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 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.
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