The Heads surfForecast / Garden Route / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 am Sunday 26 Apr 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
19.0° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

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 (Apr 26) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. 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 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Apr 30) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sun 26th Apr)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 26th Apr)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 30th Apr)11ft (3.5m) 16s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
1
Saturday
2
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
!
1
!
!
!
!
3
3
4
3
3
!
4
3
4
4
4
3
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>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
9
1.2
SW
9
3
SW
9
3.5
SW
10
2.5
WSW
11
4
SSW
11
3.5
SSW
11
3.5
S
13
3.5
S
12
3
S
13
2.5
SSE
13
2.2
SSE
13
1.6
SSE
12
1.5
SSW
14
3.5
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
2.5
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
13
2.5
SW
12
2.2
SW
11
1.4
SW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
112
226
1420
2169
1626
3352
3212
4215
3078
3052
2329
1597
689
833
6161
3501
2460
1569
1769
1183
458
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
15
SW
35
WSW
30
WSW
30
WSW
25
W
20
W
15
WSW
10
NNW
5
ESE
15
ESE
5
NW
10
WSW
10
SSW
5
WNW
5
SSE
5
ESE
5
NNW
5
WSW
5
SE
10
NE
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
off
cross
cross
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
12:41PM1.28m
1:03AM1.51m
1:27PM1.39m
1:42AM1.61m
2:04PM1.48m
2:14AM1.69m
2:36PM1.55m
2:45AM1.74m
3:06PM1.60m
3:14AM1.75m
3:35PM1.63m
3:42AM1.74m
4:03PM1.62m
4:11AM1.70m
Low Tide
6:45PM0.47m
7:30AM0.38m
7:29PM0.38m
8:05AM0.28m
8:04PM0.30m
8:35AM0.20m
8:35PM0.25m
9:03AM0.15m
9:05PM0.22m
9:29AM0.13m
9:33PM0.21m
9:56AM0.13m
10:01PM0.23m
clear
clear
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:58
6:58
7:00
7:01
7:01
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:51
5:50
5:49
5:47
5:46
5:45
9
4
2
3
1
Temp °C
21
19
16
14
14
13
15
16
14
17
19
14
18
18
16
18
18
15
20
20
17
21
18
13
7
7
7
10
11
12
15
16
12
17
17
15
18
16
14
19
19
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SW
9
1.2
SW
9
0.6
E
9
0.6
E
10
2.3
SSW
10
3.5
SSW
11
3.5
SSW
11
3.5
S
13
3.5
S
12
3
S
13
2.5
SSE
13
2.2
SSE
13
1.6
SSE
12
1.5
SSW
14
3.5
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
2.5
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
13
2.5
SW
12
2.2
SW
11
1.4
SW
11
Energy kJ
112
226
60
71
1082
2835
3212
4215
3078
3052
2329
1597
689
833
6161
3501
2460
1569
1769
1183
458
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
E
9
0.7
E
8
0.3
SW
14
0.4
E
10
0.4
SW
12
0.3
E
11
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
1.1
SW
10
1.1
SW
13
1.4
SW
13
1.2
SSE
11
0.7
SE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.2
E
10
0.5
S
16
1
S
12
0.9
SSW
11
Energy kJ
99
69
33
31
52
20
19
18
18
217
424
642
334
106
37
21
7
118
273
215
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
6
0.3
SW
15
0.2
SSE
14
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.4
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
16
0.2
E
10
1
S
19
0.3
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.4
SSE
15
0.9
S
11
Energy kJ
47
34
18
19
18
81
144
7
767
17
8
8
9
72
196
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
9
3.5
SW
10
2.5
WSW
11
4
SSW
11
0.2
E
5
Energy kJ
1420
2169
1626
3352
2
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
4
2
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
7
4
4
4
4
4
3
Distance (km)
26
29
499
499
1523
8
8
8
8
8
8
0
7
7
8
0
8
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
7
5
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
4
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
7
5
4
4
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
7
8
5
6
5
5
9
6
5
9
9
5
9
5
5
5
4
4
4
  • 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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