The Heads surfForecast / Garden Route / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Sunday 03 May 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
18.3° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

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 (May 03) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 16 days are 5.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 06) at 2PM. 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+) 8PM (Sun 3rd May)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 7th May)15ft (4.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 2PM (Wed 6th May)18ft (5.5m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 65mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, strong winds from the SE by Wed morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night).

Sun
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
1
1
3
2
3
2
0
0
!
!
!
!
4
3
4
4
3
4
1
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SW
10
0.9
SW
14
1.4
SW
11
1.8
SW
13
1.4
SW
13
1.5
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
12
2.5
S
11
5.5
SSE
11
5
SE
11
4.5
SE
12
4
SE
12
4
SE
12
3.5
SE
13
3
SE
12
2.5
ESE
12
2.5
SE
12
3
SE
12
2.5
SE
12
2.4
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
400
341
458
1077
604
647
536
1673
7330
6610
5190
4878
4427
4125
2710
2200
2124
2331
1968
1573
851
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
5
NNW
10
SW
15
SW
5
WNW
10
SW
5
NNE
15
W
40
SE
25
SE
20
SSE
15
S
10
SSW
5
NW
5
W
5
SE
10
NE
5
ENE
10
E
10
NNW
30
W
cross
off
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross
High Tide
4:32PM1.59m
4:39AM1.63m
5:01PM1.53m
5:08AM1.55m
5:32PM1.45m
5:39AM1.45m
6:07PM1.36m
6:13AM1.35m
6:51PM1.28m
6:57AM1.25m
7:53PM1.21m
8:05AM1.16m
9:24PM1.20m
9:49AM1.13m
Low Tide
10:30PM0.28m
10:51AM0.23m
10:59PM0.34m
11:21AM0.30m
11:31PM0.43m
11:53AM0.39m
00:06AM0.53m
12:32PM0.48m
00:53AM0.63m
1:24PM0.56m
2:03AM0.71m
2:38PM0.62m
3:45AM0.72m
clear
clear
clear
cloud
light rain
rain showers
mod rain
heavy rain
thunderstorm
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:05
7:05
7:05
7:07
7:07
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:44
5:43
5:42
5:40
5:39
5:38
5:37
3
2
7
18
35
13
9
4
2
2
2
Temp °C
26
21
21
18
15
16
16
14
16
16
16
16
16
14
16
17
13
19
21
18
14
25
21
20
15
14
15
15
14
10
12
12
13
13
13
15
15
12
17
19
16
6
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SW
10
1.2
SW
10
1.4
SW
11
0.9
SSW
12
1.4
SW
13
1.5
WSW
12
1.4
WSW
12
2.5
S
11
0.6
WSW
12
0.6
SW
15
4.5
SE
12
4
SE
12
4
SE
12
3.5
SE
13
3
SE
12
2.5
ESE
12
2.5
SE
12
3
SE
12
2.5
SE
12
2.4
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
Energy kJ
400
316
458
254
604
647
536
1673
91
171
5190
4878
4427
4125
2710
2200
2124
2331
1968
1573
851
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
S
10
0.9
SW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.3
E
6
0.8
SSW
12
0.8
SSW
11
1.3
SSW
11
1
WSW
11
0.6
SW
16
0.6
WSW
12
0.8
SW
13
0.6
SW
13
0.6
SW
15
0.7
SW
13
0.9
SW
18
1.3
SW
16
1.3
SW
15
1.3
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
Energy kJ
167
341
265
6
176
161
401
261
159
91
215
136
136
180
444
823
705
677
668
588
457
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
15
0.7
S
10
0.7
SW
14
0.2
SSE
9
0.2
E
8
0.2
SSE
11
0.2
SSE
11
0.4
SW
17
0.1
SW
19
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
12
0.5
SW
19
0.8
SSE
16
1.1
S
9
1.2
SSE
13
0.4
SSE
12
0.4
SSE
12
0.3
SSE
11
0.3
SSE
11
Energy kJ
326
96
189
8
5
12
11
70
14
67
69
183
334
198
472
57
57
24
22
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
ESE
4
1.8
SW
13
0.6
SSE
3
5.5
SSE
11
5
SE
11
1.5
WSW
5
Energy kJ
7
1077
9
7330
6610
117
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
3
3
1
3
4
4
2
6
2
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Distance (km)
8
0
7
30
0
7
0
7
465
483
26
343
8
8
0
26
0
0
8
0
468
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
6
5
5
5
4
5
5
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
6
8
6
4
5
5
5
6
5
5
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
6
8
6
5
6
6
7
7
5
5
5
4
6
  • 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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