The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

Issued: 7 am 13 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.5° C

Slightly cooler than normal

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 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 13 Jun, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 13 Jun, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with 3,518 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 13 Jun, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Jun 13) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jun 13) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Jun 14) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Sat 13th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Best Surf 5PM (Sat 13th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sat 13th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 13s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
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)
!
!
4
4
2
3
1
3
2
2
0
3
3
2
4
3
2
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
SSW
12
3.5
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
2.4
SSW
12
2.1
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
12
2
SSW
11
1.8
SSW
11
1.2
SW
11
1.7
SE
7
1.5
SE
7
1.3
SSW
12
1.5
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
2
SSW
14
2.1
SW
13
2.2
SW
14
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
1.7
SSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3827
3518
2779
1703
1248
1010
1008
785
341
318
222
517
772
958
1490
1524
1850
1067
971
918
769
Wind (km/h)
0
S
20
E
10
NNE
5
N
5
SW
10
NW
15
W
5
W
10
ENE
15
E
15
E
10
NE
5
ENE
10
E
5
W
10
W
15
SE
15
E
15
E
25
E
15
ENE
Wind State
glassy
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
2:22PM1.56m
2:38AM1.79m
3:11PM1.65m
3:27AM1.82m
3:58PM1.71m
4:14AM1.80m
4:45PM1.74m
5:01AM1.75m
5:32PM1.73m
5:47AM1.65m
6:20PM1.68m
6:34AM1.53m
7:09PM1.61m
Low Tide
8:12AM0.15m
8:22PM0.23m
9:01AM0.08m
9:14PM0.16m
9:48AM0.04m
10:04PM0.14m
10:33AM0.04m
10:54PM0.15m
11:18AM0.07m
11:43PM0.21m
12:02PM0.14m
00:34AM0.29m
12:47PM0.23m
1:27AM0.40m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:30
7:30
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
 mm
3
4
Temp °C
15
15
13
15
17
14
15
15
14
16
18
15
18
20
16
18
17
17
17
18
16
Feels °C
15
12
10
14
15
12
11
11
13
14
15
13
17
19
16
18
18
16
15
16
14
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
SSW
12
3.5
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
2.4
SSW
12
2.1
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
12
2
SSW
11
1.8
SSW
11
1.4
SSE
8
1.2
SSE
7
1.5
SE
7
1.5
ESE
7
1.5
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
2
SSW
14
2.1
SW
13
2.2
SW
14
1.8
SW
13
1.8
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
1.7
SSW
12
Energy kJ
3827
3518
2779
1703
1248
1010
1008
785
270
153
222
192
772
958
1490
1524
1850
1067
971
918
769
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
11
0.2
E
11
0.3
E
12
0.6
ESE
5
0.8
ESE
6
0.6
ESE
6
0.6
E
7
0.3
E
7
1.2
SW
11
1.1
SSW
10
0.8
SSW
10
1.3
SSW
12
1.3
ESE
6
1
ESE
6
0.8
ESE
6
0.1
E
10
0.9
ESE
6
0.1
S
21
0.5
S
15
0.3
SSW
18
Energy kJ
9
10
24
23
40
29
36
8
341
255
130
517
145
82
46
2
49
9
115
62
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
9
0.4
E
11
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.7
SE
8
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
16
0.1
SW
20
0.3
WSW
11
Energy kJ
2
37
19
18
13
7
23
60
181
206
15
24
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
E
5
1
WSW
5
1.1
WSW
7
1.7
SE
7
1.8
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
6
0.8
ESE
6
0.6
ESE
6
1.2
ESE
5
1.6
ESE
6
Energy kJ
109
44
99
318
268
122
40
24
74
176
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
3
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
Distance (km)
8
26
0
0
7
0
7
0
0
8
26
0
0
8
0
7
26
8
26
26
26
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
7
5
9
5
5
5
5
  • 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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