The Heads surfForecast / Garden Route / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 am Monday 01 Jun 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
18.4° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

The Heads surf forecast from 1 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 3 Jun, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 4 Jun, 5PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SE swell with 5,651 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 1 Jun, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s 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 Monday (Jun 01) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 04) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 03) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 1st Jun)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s
Best Surf11AM (Wed 3rd Jun)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 5PM (Thu 4th Jun)16ft (5.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the ESE by Wed afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
Saturday
6
Sunday
7
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
1
1
1
!
!
0
0
!
!
!
!
4
4
4
3
3
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
11
1.6
SW
11
1.7
SW
12
1.5
SW
11
1.3
WSW
11
1.7
SSE
8
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SE
9
4
SE
10
4.5
SE
11
5
SE
11
4
SE
12
3.5
SE
12
3.5
SE
12
2.5
SSE
12
1.9
SE
12
1.7
ESE
12
1.5
ESE
12
1.3
ESE
12
1.6
SW
11
1.5
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
461
652
833
544
346
339
1729
1809
3016
4310
5651
4927
3804
3349
2116
977
850
575
546
538
625
Wind (km/h)
10
N
10
WSW
10
WNW
15
WSW
10
WSW
15
ESE
25
ESE
25
ESE
25
SE
20
SE
20
S
15
WSW
25
W
15
WSW
10
NW
5
NW
5
SSW
10
NNW
5
N
5
S
10
W
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
on
cross
High Tide
4:21PM1.54m
4:28AM1.58m
4:54PM1.52m
5:00AM1.54m
5:28PM1.49m
5:33AM1.48m
6:05PM1.45m
6:08AM1.42m
6:46PM1.42m
6:49AM1.35m
7:33PM1.39m
7:40AM1.28m
8:29PM1.38m
Low Tide
10:10AM0.23m
10:20PM0.34m
10:42AM0.25m
10:54PM0.37m
11:14AM0.28m
11:29PM0.42m
11:48AM0.32m
00:07AM0.48m
12:25PM0.36m
00:51AM0.53m
1:07PM0.41m
1:44AM0.57m
1:57PM0.47m
2:50AM0.58m
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
heavy rain
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:24
7:24
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:25
5:25
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
5:24
5
4
7
14
9
10
12
1
1
Temp °C
26
26
17
18
18
16
15
14
14
14
14
15
15
15
13
15
17
14
17
18
15
24
25
17
16
16
16
11
9
10
9
11
12
10
10
10
13
15
11
15
17
14
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SW
11
1.6
SW
11
1.7
SW
12
1.5
SW
11
1.3
WSW
11
1.2
SW
10
1.7
SW
13
1.7
SSW
12
1.3
SW
12
1
SW
12
4.5
SE
11
4
SE
12
3.5
SE
12
3.5
SE
12
2.5
SSE
12
1.9
SE
12
1.7
ESE
12
1.5
ESE
12
1.3
ESE
12
1.6
SW
11
1.5
SW
12
Energy kJ
461
652
833
544
346
290
996
808
463
273
5030
4927
3804
3349
2116
977
850
575
467
538
625
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
ESE
7
0.7
ESE
8
0.6
E
8
0.4
ESE
8
1
SSW
11
1.1
SSW
8
0.3
WSW
11
0.2
W
11
0.9
SW
12
0.9
SSW
11
0.9
SSW
11
0.8
SSW
11
0.8
SW
14
1.5
S
10
1.4
S
10
1.1
S
9
1.3
SW
12
1.3
ESE
11
1.3
ESE
12
Energy kJ
41
58
45
21
234
169
24
9
220
215
207
151
297
407
347
189
546
451
415
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
SSW
13
0.4
E
7
0.3
SSW
11
0.4
ESE
8
0.8
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
10
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
13
0.9
SW
12
0.9
S
8
1
SW
13
0.8
SW
15
Energy kJ
71
92
15
23
21
250
62
80
175
69
295
286
212
104
340
258
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
W
3
0.7
WSW
4
1.7
SSE
8
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SE
9
4
SE
10
4.5
SE
11
5
SE
11
0.9
W
4
Energy kJ
6
14
339
1729
1809
3016
4310
5651
30
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
3
2
4
2
3
3
4
9
6
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
Distance (km)
0
7
0
7
7
26
464
586
516
465
361
8
8
8
0
0
0
0
0
26
7
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
4
4
6
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
4
4
9
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
4
9
5
5
9
8
9
7
9
8
9
7
  • 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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