The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 08 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.0° C
0.4° 

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 8 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 3,772 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) 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 (Jul 11) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Wed 8th Jul)7ft (2.2m) 13s
Best Surf 2AM (Fri 10th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 8AM (Thu 9th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 14s

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


Alright, let’s run it down for The Heads, in feet and miles per hour.

The next week and a bit is looking full-on with some serious size, but you’ll have to be smart about when you paddle out. The first few days are messy with cross-onshore crap, so don’t even bother on Wednesday. Thursday morning the 9th is still dodgy, but Thursday afternoon is where it goes off. The swell is a solid 10ft of SSW groundswell, and the wind drops to dead glass. That’s a rare combo. The wave energy is pumping hard (3034), and it’s strictly for the experienced crew – beginners stay on the beach. That glassy calm holds through Friday morning and all Friday afternoon, with the same 10ft sets and zero wind. That’s your first real standout: back-to-back sessions on Thursday afternoon and all day Friday, if you can handle the heavy water.

Saturday the 11th gets a bit more wind on it, shifting easterly, which puts a bit of a cross-chop on the face, but there’s still decent 8ft SSW swell hanging in. Sunday morning the 12th cleans right up. The size drops to about 5ft, the wind goes light cross-off, and the energy is moderate at 924. That’s a good day for intermediates to get a look.

Monday the 13th through Tuesday the 14th is flat and onshore. Not worth getting wet. Then Wednesday morning the 15th, you get a tiny 3ft ESE pulse with an offshore wind, which could be fun on a longboard.

Now, for the second week. Thursday July 16th – the swell jumps to a massive 11-12ft from the SW. That is too big for The Heads. The wind is favourable for a clean face, but the sheer volume of water moving (2347 energy) makes it expert-only. That huge swell continues into Friday the 17th, hitting 11-12ft again. Friday afternoon offers glassy conditions at The Heads, but again, only for the brave.

Things settle down nicely by Saturday July 18th. You’ve got 10ft SSW with glassy wind in the morning – excellent for experienced surfers (2783 energy). Then Sunday the 19th is the real gem for everyone else: 6ft SSW, dead calm, clean as glass, 1043 energy. That’s the pick of the second week for a good, solid session.

There’s also a notable blip on Wednesday July 22nd: a very long 15 second period SSW groundswell at 8ft. That’s proper ocean energy (2892), and with glassy conditions in the morning, it’s going to offer some beautifully shaped, powerful waves. The long period means the sets will be widely spaced, making the paddle-out easier, but the waves themselves will jack up fast. It’s a corker for the experienced crew.

Overall, you’ve got a blank run until Thursday afternoon, and then it’s on. The best on offer are those glassy 10ft days on the 9th and 10th, and then the clean 6ft Sunday on the 19th for a more relaxed session.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
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
1
2
3
4
!
4
4
4
3
2
4
3
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
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
13
2.4
SW
12
3
SSW
12
3
SSW
14
3
SSW
13
3.5
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
12
2.5
SSW
12
2.3
SSW
12
2.2
S
12
1.5
SSW
11
1.4
SSW
11
1.4
SSW
10
1.5
ESE
8
1.1
S
10
1
ESE
8
1.1
ESE
8
1
ESE
8
0.9
ESE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1569
1749
2720
3413
3024
3708
3170
2817
2094
1929
1505
1288
550
444
392
253
250
137
160
131
140
Wind (km/h)
15
W
20
WSW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
SW
5
NW
5
W
0
SSW
5
NE
10
E
20
E
15
ENE
5
ENE
5
E
10
NW
20
W
20
W
15
WNW
20
W
15
WSW
5
N
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
High Tide
9:05AM1.23m
9:46PM1.44m
10:33AM1.20m
11:10PM1.43m
12:05PM1.25m
00:31AM1.50m
1:19PM1.36m
1:38AM1.60m
2:17PM1.51m
2:34AM1.69m
3:08PM1.65m
3:23AM1.77m
3:53PM1.76m
4:08AM1.79m
Low Tide
3:08PM0.50m
4:23AM0.51m
4:29PM0.55m
5:49AM0.47m
6:00PM0.52m
7:05AM0.37m
7:18PM0.42m
8:06AM0.25m
8:21PM0.30m
8:57AM0.13m
9:15PM0.19m
9:43AM0.05m
10:03PM0.12m
clear
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:33
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:31
5:31
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:35
 mm
3
1
1
Temp °C
17
18
14
14
14
13
14
14
13
16
17
14
17
17
16
17
18
15
16
17
13
Feels °C
14
14
12
12
12
12
12
13
12
14
14
12
16
15
15
14
14
12
12
13
12
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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