The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 03 Oct 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
15.1°C
2.7° 

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 3 Oct 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 7 Oct, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 6 Oct, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 4,549 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 3 Oct, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s 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 Saturday (Oct 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Oct 06) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sat 3rd Oct)6ft (1.8m) 11s
Best Surf 2AM (Wed 7th Oct)10ft (3.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 8PM (Tue 6th Oct)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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


Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
3
Sunday
4
Monday
5
Tuesday
6
Wednesday
7
Thursday
8
Friday
9
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
3
0
1
2
4
3
1
2
2
0
5
4
2
4
2
3
4
3
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SW
10
1.4
SW
12
1.2
SW
11
2.4
ESE
8
2.5
ESE
8
1.6
SW
14
1.5
SW
13
1.8
ESE
9
1.4
SW
14
1.1
SW
16
2.2
SW
17
3
SW
16
3
SW
15
2.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
2.5
SW
14
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
508
555
344
782
976
947
734
510
736
625
2813
4414
3539
3194
2880
2667
2474
1591
2271
3454
1982
Wind (km/h)
5
WNW
0
N
20
E
20
E
15
E
5
NNE
0
N
15
ESE
10
W
25
W
20
WSW
10
NW
10
ENE
20
ESE
10
NNE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
WNW
10
SSW
5
S
5
NW
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross
cross
off
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
on
on
cross-off
High Tide
8:40PM1.19m
10:13AM1.16m
11:09PM1.18m
12:07PM1.30m
00:35AM1.31m
1:04PM1.49m
1:26AM1.45m
1:45PM1.66m
2:05AM1.58m
2:20PM1.79m
2:39AM1.67m
2:52PM1.87m
3:10AM1.72m
Low Tide
2:08PM0.66m
3:26AM0.66m
4:47PM0.70m
5:39AM0.59m
6:31PM0.55m
6:48AM0.45m
7:25PM0.37m
7:33AM0.30m
8:05PM0.22m
8:09AM0.19m
8:39PM0.11m
8:42AM0.11m
9:09PM0.04m
mod rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
—
—
6:01
—
—
6:00
—
—
5:58
—
—
5:56
—
—
5:56
—
—
5:54
—
—
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
—
6:30
—
—
6:31
—
—
6:32
—
—
6:32
—
—
6:34
—
—
6:35
—
—
6:36
—
 mm
8
2
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
6
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Temp °C
14
16
16
17
22
19
28
29
19
17
14
14
13
17
14
19
19
14
17
18
15
Feels °C
14
17
15
16
21
19
28
29
18
14
10
12
11
14
11
17
16
13
16
16
15
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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