The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
16.9° C
0.5° 

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 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with 3,708 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 2AM (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 Friday (Jul 10) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 12s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Fri 10th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Best Surf 2AM (Fri 10th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 2AM (Fri 10th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 13s

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


G'day, Rusty here. We've got a solid 16-day window ahead at The Heads, and while it starts a bit rough, there's some proper groundswell brewing for the experienced crew later on. This is a sandbar setup that's fairly consistent and fairly exposed, handling a SSE direction best.

The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag. Friday the 10th kicks off with a strong SSW swell, 10ft, with a long 13-second period and glassy conditions thanks to light W winds. The water energy is pumping at 3131, and for an experienced surfer, it's excellent. That carries into the afternoon with similar size. The downside is that this is a sandbar, and with the period over 13 seconds, the swell might be a bit too straight-up for it to really reel off.

Saturday the 11th sees the swell drop a touch to 8ft, but the wind swings to a cross-shore E breeze, and the energy drops off to 2192. It’s still a bit too big for beginners, but the wind will make it tricky. The choppier conditions persist into Sunday and Monday as the swell fades and periods drop. By Tuesday the 14th, we’ve got clean, glassy conditions again with a smaller 5ft ESE swell, but at 8 seconds, it's a short-period wind swell, so it'll be crumbly and weak.

Now, for the standout. Thursday the 16th is the first real highlight. An excellent SW groundswell at 8ft with a 13-second period, and in the morning it's glassy. The water temperature is about average for this time of year. The energy is strong at 2062. This is the pick for the first week. You'll want to be on the morning session.

That clean energy holds into Sunday the 19th. Another pulse of 10ft SW swell at 13 seconds arrives, with glassy ENE winds in the morning. That's a proper session. It drops off slightly after.

Looking ahead into the second week, Wednesday the 22nd is one to circle. A 8ft SW swell showing up with a 9-second period, but with glassy conditions all day. The energy is solid at 1232. It’s not the biggest, but it’ll be clean.

Then, Thursday the 23rd is the absolute standout of the entire forecast. A long-period 14-second SW groundswell at 8ft in the morning, building to 8ft by the afternoon. The wind is glassy, and the energy is very strong at 2176. This is premium surf for experts. However, be warned: by Friday the 24th, the swell absolutely detonates, hitting 20ft with a 16-second period. That is way too big for even the most seasoned charger at this break. The energy is a monstrous 16512. That Friday and Saturday are for watching, not paddling out.

Overall, the best windows are the mornings of the 16th and 19th, and then the entire day of the 23rd is the crown jewel. Don't get too excited about the 24th unless you’re towing in.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thu
16
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
2
3
2
2
3
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
4
4
3
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)
3.5
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
3
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
12
2.5
SSW
12
2.4
SSW
12
2.2
S
12
1.6
SSW
11
1.5
SSW
11
1.4
SSW
11
1.2
SSW
10
1.3
S
10
1.3
ESE
8
1.4
ESE
8
1.3
ESE
9
1.1
ESE
9
1.1
E
10
1.7
SW
11
2.5
SW
14
2.4
SW
13
2.2
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3708
3123
2773
2094
2186
1659
1365
631
515
408
312
339
252
256
254
211
221
635
2724
1952
1594
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
5
W
5
SSW
5
NE
10
E
20
ESE
10
E
10
ESE
15
E
5
N
10
W
10
WSW
10
NW
5
SW
5
S
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NW
5
E
10
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
glassy
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
High Tide
11:10PM1.43m
12:05PM1.25m
00:31AM1.50m
1:19PM1.36m
1:38AM1.60m
2:17PM1.51m
2:34AM1.69m
3:08PM1.65m
3:23AM1.77m
3:53PM1.76m
4:08AM1.79m
4:37PM1.83m
4:50AM1.77m
5:18PM1.85m
Low Tide
5:49AM0.47m
6:00PM0.52m
7:05AM0.37m
7:18PM0.42m
8:06AM0.25m
8:21PM0.30m
8:57AM0.13m
9:15PM0.19m
9:43AM0.05m
10:03PM0.12m
10:24AM0.00m
10:48PM0.10m
11:03AM0.00m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:31
7:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:31
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
 mm
Temp °C
14
15
15
13
15
17
15
17
18
16
17
18
14
17
18
15
19
19
16
19
21
Feels °C
12
13
13
12
13
14
13
16
16
14
15
16
12
16
16
14
16
16
15
18
19
  • 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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