The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

Issued: 7 pm 23 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.7° 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 23 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 24 Jun, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 29 Jun, 11AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 11,042 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 24 Jun, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 18s 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 Wednesday (Jun 24) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 11s. 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 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jun 29) at 11AM. 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+) 8AM (Wed 24th Jun)6.5ft (2.0m) 18s
Best Surf11AM (Wed 24th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 17s
Most Powerful11AM (Mon 29th Jun)16ft (5.0m) 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

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the W by Mon afternoon).

Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tue
30
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
3
!
!
5
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
2
3
4
4
!
!
!
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)
2.4
SW
11
3.5
SW
17
3.5
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.3
SW
14
2
SW
13
1.4
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.3
SSW
15
1.9
SSW
14
1.9
SSW
14
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
13
1.8
SSW
19
4
SW
17
5
SW
16
4.5
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
2.5
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1452
6874
7440
4490
2155
1346
1055
3211
3601
2274
1388
1291
1430
1468
2241
9884
11042
8087
3581
2406
2138
Wind (km/h)
15
W
5
SSE
15
E
10
ENE
5
NE
5
SE
10
NW
5
W
10
E
10
NE
5
NW
5
WSW
5
W
0
SSW
5
ENE
15
NW
35
W
30
W
20
WNW
15
W
15
WSW
Wind State
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
High Tide
11:13PM1.34m
11:59AM1.16m
00:17AM1.34m
1:01PM1.22m
1:11AM1.38m
1:49PM1.29m
1:57AM1.43m
2:30PM1.37m
2:37AM1.49m
3:07PM1.44m
3:13AM1.54m
3:41PM1.50m
3:47AM1.58m
4:14PM1.55m
Low Tide
5:52AM0.58m
5:50PM0.64m
6:53AM0.53m
6:55PM0.60m
7:41AM0.47m
7:46PM0.54m
8:21AM0.40m
8:29PM0.48m
8:57AM0.33m
9:07PM0.41m
9:31AM0.28m
9:42PM0.36m
10:03AM0.23m
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
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>
5:25
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:28
 mm
2
2
Temp °C
17
16
16
14
17
19
17
19
19
17
23
20
15
18
20
20
19
14
12
13
14
Feels °C
16
16
15
12
17
18
17
18
18
16
22
18
14
19
20
18
15
7
6
8
9
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
SW
11
3.5
SW
17
3.5
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.3
SW
14
2
SW
13
1.5
SW
12
2.5
SSW
16
2.5
SSW
16
2.3
SSW
15
1.9
SSW
14
1.9
SSW
14
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
4
SW
17
4.5
SW
16
4
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
2.5
SW
12
Energy kJ
1452
6874
7440
4490
2155
1346
634
3211
3601
2274
1388
1291
1430
1468
1313
9884
10064
6942
3581
2406
2138
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SSW
19
1
ESE
6
1.3
ESE
7
1.4
SSW
16
1.6
S
8
1.1
SSE
7
0.9
SE
6
0.7
SE
6
0.5
SE
6
0.4
ESE
7
0.7
SSW
20
1.8
SSW
19
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
9
Energy kJ
993
72
134
1055
333
127
70
39
19
18
353
2241
7
6
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
ESE
7
0.7
E
8
0.6
E
7
0.3
E
7
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SSE
6
0.4
SE
6
0.3
ESE
6
Energy kJ
79
55
36
8
22
12
10
8
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
ESE
5
0.5
W
3
0.4
E
7
5
SW
16
4.5
SW
14
Energy kJ
37
5
15
11042
8087
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
7
8
5
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
9
5
5
5
4
4
Distance (km)
7
8
11
0
0
0
0
7
8
0
0
7
7
0
0
8
358
496
8
8
7
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
4
7
8
5
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
9
5
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
8
7
8
5
4
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
9
5
5
5
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
9
8
5
5
5
5
6
6
5
6
5
5
7
7
9
5
5
5
6
5
  • 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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