The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 13 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
15.7°C
1.6° 

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 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 2,824 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 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 (Sep 13) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Sun 13th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Best Surf 5PM (Sun 13th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 8AM (Wed 16th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 14s

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 on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the outlook starts with a bit of a flat note and stays pretty marginal for most of the run. The first real surf to get excited about doesn’t show up until Sunday the 13th of September, but even then, it’s a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid 7ft swell from the SW with a very long 15-second period rolling in on Sunday morning at The Heads, and the combined energy is pumping at 2909 – that’s strong energy. But it’s an E wind, 9 mph and cross-shore, so there’ll be a bit of chop. The water temp is 60°, which is 3° cooler than usual for this time of year – a bit colder than normal, so bring a thicker suit. That morning surf is rated as marginal, so not the cleanest. Sunday afternoon though, the swell jumps to 12ft from the ESE, but that’s too big for this break – really only for the experts, if anyone’s game.

Through Monday and Tuesday the 14th and 15th, we’ve got smaller 8ft to 4ft swell, but the wind stays cross or cross-on and the combined energy drops to between 948 and 1567 – moderate energy. Nothing special, just messy conditions with rain and light chop.

Midweek, Wednesday the 16th shows a pulse of 8ft SW swell with a 14-second period, combined energy at 2603, but again the wind is cross or onshore, so it’s not going to be pretty. The rest of that week and into the weekend (17th-19th) is all marginal, with 5ft to 6ft SW swell and persistent E/ESE winds. Not your classic clean waves.

There’s a bit of hope on Friday the 25th of September – the morning session looks sweet. The wind goes glassy (0 mph from the S), and we’ve got 6ft SW swell with a 10-second period, combined energy at 727 – moderate energy. That’s as clean as it gets, with glassy conditions. The break is The Heads, a sandbar that’s fairly consistent, and the optimum swell direction is SSE, but SW is close enough. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might have company. This is the standout of the whole period – light wind, clean waves, just a solid little session.

Later that Friday afternoon the wind picks up to 12 mph cross-on, and it gets choppy – so make the most of the morning.

The last few days, the 26th to 28th, see bigger swell again – 7ft to 12ft SW groundswell with very long periods up to 16 seconds. The combined energy gets huge – 3932 on Saturday the 26th afternoon, and 4524 on Monday the 28th morning. But that size is too big for The Heads; it’s expert-only territory. The Monday morning has glassy conditions, which would be incredible, but the 12ft swell is just too much for this spot. If you’re a solid charger, maybe, but for most of us, it’s a watch-from-the-beach day.

So bottom line: the only real standout is Friday the 25th of September morning – glassy, clean, 6ft SW swell. Get in early.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
!
4
3
2
3
2
2
1
3
3
4
2
1
3
1
2
3
2
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
SW
15
3.5
ESE
9
3
ESE
10
2.3
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
1.7
E
10
1.6
E
11
1.3
E
11
2.5
SW
10
2.5
SW
14
2
SW
14
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.7
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.7
SW
11
1.8
SW
14
1.8
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
1.3
SW
12
1.3
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1810
1723
1368
1040
889
632
617
418
1394
2458
1429
1053
944
800
628
726
1344
1092
761
435
609
Wind (km/h)
15
E
15
E
10
NNE
10
SW
10
SSW
15
ENE
5
WSW
10
E
15
SSW
15
WSW
10
SSW
0
NE
15
ESE
15
ESE
10
NE
15
ESE
20
ESE
15
ENE
15
ESE
25
ESE
15
ENE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
4:50PM1.88m
5:04AM1.68m
5:18PM1.77m
5:32AM1.58m
5:45PM1.63m
5:58AM1.45m
6:11PM1.47m
6:25AM1.31m
6:38PM1.31m
6:56AM1.16m
7:13PM1.15m
8:00AM1.01m
9:23PM1.02m
Low Tide
10:38AM0.04m
11:02PM0.08m
11:05AM0.12m
11:29PM0.18m
11:31AM0.24m
11:54PM0.31m
11:57AM0.38m
00:21AM0.45m
12:24PM0.53m
00:52AM0.59m
12:56PM0.68m
1:44AM0.74m
2:09PM0.83m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
mod rain
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:30
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:22
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:16
6:17
6:17
6:19
6:20
6:20
6:21
 mm
3
10
3
9
7
4
1
Temp °C
19
21
21
22
18
16
21
21
18
14
13
14
16
17
15
16
16
15
18
19
16
Feels °C
18
20
20
21
17
17
20
19
18
12
9
12
12
13
13
12
11
11
15
14
13
  • 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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