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Surf Forecasts:

The Heads surfForecast / Garden Route / South Africa

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Monday 12 Jan 2026 SAST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
The Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's The Heads sea temperature is
21.6° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Heads this week:

The surf forecast for The Heads over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 13) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 12 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jan 18) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Tue 13th Jan)5.5ft (1.7m) 12s
Best Surf 8AM (Sun 18th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 10s
Most Powerful11AM (Sun 18th Jan)13ft (4.0m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Mon
19
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
1
2
0
1
4
2
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
2
!
!
4
2
1
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.9
SW
1.6
SW
1.5
SW
1.4
SW
1.3
SW
1.3
SW
2
SW
3
SW
3
SSW
2.5
SSW
1.5
SW
1.3
SW
1.5
ESE
0.8
SW
1.1
SW
2.1
SW
4
SW
4
SW
3
SW
2.5
SSW
2.5
SSW
Period(s) (?)13121211111115121111111061010101213121212
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1242748614483422377167227702459145649632216011023580051684591301520591693
Wind
(km/h)
5
WSW
15
S
10
S
5
NNE
10
SSE
10
SSE
10
NW
15
SSW
15
ESE
15
E
15
ESE
20
ESE
5
NW
20
SW
15
SW
20
WNW
20
SW
15
SW
5
NE
15
SSE
20
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		ononglassononcross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		crosscross-
on		crosscross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		glasscross-
on		cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
11:42PM
1.04
12:08PM
1.21
1:08AM
1.12
1:17PM
1.28
1:59AM
1.24
2:04PM
1.38
2:38AM
1.35
2:42PM
1.49
3:11AM
1.47
3:15PM
1.58
3:42AM
1.57
3:46PM
1.65
4:12AM
1.66
4:16PM
1.70
Low Tide
/ height (m)
5:23AM
0.75
6:55PM
0.64
7:00AM
0.69
7:50PM
0.54
7:56AM
0.59
8:30PM
0.43
8:37AM
0.48
9:02PM
0.32
9:11AM
0.38
9:32PM
0.22
9:43AM
0.30
10:01PM
0.14
10:14AM
0.24
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Mon
19
Sunrise-5:28--5:30--5:31--5:31--5:33--5:33--5:35-
Sunset--7:42--7:42--7:42--7:40--7:40--7:40--7:39
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
-------321------4----
Temp. °C212424212425211818172122202222191919182122
Feels °C (?)232424232425221617151919192020181616161818
  • 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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Latest Updates

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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our The Heads surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for The Heads at:
surf-forecast.com

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 12 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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