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Surf Forecasts:

The Heads surfForecast / Garden Route / South Africa

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Tuesday 13 Jan 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
22.2° C
 (Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Heads this week:

The surf forecast for The Heads over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 14) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 12 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jan 15) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Wed 14th Jan)4.5ft (1.4m) 11s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 15th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 8AM (Thu 15th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tue
20
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
4
!
2
3
0
1
2
0
0
1
2
2
4
1
0
2
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.5
SW
1.3
SW
1.3
SW
1.8
SW
3.5
SW
3
SSW
1.8
SW
1.4
SW
1.3
SW
1.6
E
0.8
SSW
1.1
SW
1.6
SW
3
SW
2.5
SW
2.3
SW
2
SW
1.9
SW
1.6
SW
1.4
SW
1.5
SSW
Period(s) (?)1111111412111111106910101112121111111010
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)534422377136329261899807445372206106230509184817871499984806572424466
Wind
(km/h)
5
N
10
S
10
SSW
10
WNW
15
SSE
15
ESE
15
E
15
ESE
20
ESE
10
WNW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
W
15
SW
10
S
5
NNE
15
SE
25
ESE
15
E
20
ESE
25
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassononcross-
off		cross-
on		crosscrosscross-
on		crosscross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		crosscross-
on		oncross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
1:08AM
1.12
1:17PM
1.28
1:59AM
1.24
2:04PM
1.38
2:38AM
1.35
2:42PM
1.49
3:11AM
1.47
3:15PM
1.58
3:42AM
1.57
3:46PM
1.65
4:12AM
1.66
4:16PM
1.70
4:41AM
1.73
4:46PM
1.71
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:00AM
0.69
7:50PM
0.54
7:56AM
0.59
8:30PM
0.43
8:37AM
0.48
9:02PM
0.32
9:11AM
0.38
9:32PM
0.22
9:43AM
0.30
10:01PM
0.14
10:14AM
0.24
10:29PM
0.08
10:45AM
0.20
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tue
20
Sunrise-5:30--5:31--5:31--5:33--5:33--5:35--5:35-
Sunset--7:42--7:42--7:40--7:40--7:40--7:39--7:39
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
---183------12-------
Temp. °C212424211818182123212222201920192222192322
Feels °C (?)222424221616162021212021191718181918162019
  • 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

Latest Updates

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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our The Heads surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for The Heads at:
surf-forecast.com

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 12 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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