The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

Issued: 7 pm 29 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.6° C

Normal for this time of year

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 29 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 2 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 2 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, WSW swell with 4,105 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 30 Jun, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Jun 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Heads in the next 16 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 02) at 5PM. 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+) 2AM (Tue 30th Jun)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 2nd Jul)13ft (4.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 5PM (Thu 2nd Jul)15ft (4.5m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the W by Thu afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu night, calm by Sun morning).

Tuesday
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Mon
6
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
3
4
1
0
0
3
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
1.9
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
14
1.8
SSW
13
3.5
WSW
8
4.5
WSW
10
2.5
SE
11
3
SE
12
3
SE
12
2.4
SE
12
2.1
SE
12
1.9
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
1.7
SE
12
1.4
SE
12
1.1
SE
11
0.7
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3094
2103
1703
1059
972
1399
1100
1608
4105
1487
2780
2387
1600
1200
1042
960
928
792
542
320
258
Wind (km/h)
5
NNE
5
NE
5
SE
5
NW
0
W
5
SW
20
W
35
W
40
W
20
WNW
5
NNW
10
WSW
5
N
10
N
10
WSW
5
N
5
NE
10
ESE
10
NNE
10
N
5
NE
Wind State
off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
off
cross-on
off
glassy
cross
off
off
glassy
High Tide
3:47AM1.58m
4:14PM1.55m
4:19AM1.60m
4:47PM1.58m
4:51AM1.59m
5:18PM1.60m
5:22AM1.57m
5:51PM1.60m
5:54AM1.53m
6:24PM1.59m
6:29AM1.47m
7:01PM1.57m
7:10AM1.40m
7:43PM1.53m
Low Tide
9:42PM0.36m
10:03AM0.23m
10:15PM0.34m
10:34AM0.20m
10:48PM0.33m
11:04AM0.19m
11:21PM0.33m
11:34AM0.20m
11:55PM0.35m
12:05PM0.23m
00:32AM0.38m
12:39PM0.27m
1:14AM0.41m
1:18PM0.34m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
7:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:28
5:28
5:29
5:29
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
 mm
5
3
1
Temp °C
12
14
15
12
14
15
13
13
15
14
15
16
14
13
17
14
17
19
16
19
23
Feels °C
10
12
12
10
13
13
11
6
7
8
13
14
12
11
15
13
16
17
14
16
20
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
1.9
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
14
1.8
SSW
13
1
ESE
8
0.6
SE
10
2.5
SE
11
3
SE
12
3
SE
12
2.4
SE
12
2.1
SE
12
1.9
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
1.8
SE
12
1.7
SE
12
1.4
SE
12
1.1
SE
11
0.9
SE
11
Energy kJ
3094
2103
1703
1059
972
1399
1100
143
77
1487
2780
2387
1600
1200
1042
960
928
792
542
320
205
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
9
0.8
SSE
9
0.8
SSW
15
1.1
SW
12
1
SE
8
0.4
SE
10
1
SW
12
1.5
SW
8
1.3
SW
11
0.9
SW
11
1.1
SW
10
1
SW
9
0.9
SW
9
0.8
SW
14
0.7
SW
13
0.7
SW
12
0.6
SW
12
0.7
SW
16
Energy kJ
6
6
99
292
349
113
39
273
306
413
209
250
155
115
221
176
146
114
258
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
E
9
0.1
S
19
0.9
SW
12
0.6
S
8
0.3
S
10
0.4
SSW
17
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.6
WSW
8
0.5
SW
8
0.4
WSW
10
0.4
WSW
9
0.6
SW
11
Energy kJ
6
15
15
25
7
212
41
16
117
173
220
45
29
38
31
99
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
WSW
5
3.5
WSW
8
4.5
WSW
10
2.5
WSW
8
0.4
ESE
6
Energy kJ
74
1608
4105
963
12
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
390
423
7
0
8
0
0
7
0
0
8
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
2
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
8
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
4
5
5
4
5
5
8
9
7
5
5
5
6
8
9
9
9
6
  • 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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