The Heads surfForecast / Garden Route / South Africa

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 pm Sunday 24 May 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
17.7° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

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 (May 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 16s. 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 28) 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+)11PM (Sun 24th May)3.5ft (1.1m) 13s
Best Surf11AM (Thu 28th May)11ft (3.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 5PM (Thu 28th May)13ft (4.0m) 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

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sun
31
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
4
3
4
2
2
3
4
5
5
!
!
!
4
2
4
3
2
3
3
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)
1.5
SW
14
2.2
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.7
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
1.5
SW
12
1.8
SW
13
3
SW
18
3
SW
17
3.5
SW
16
4
SW
16
3.5
SW
15
3
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
2.3
SW
14
1.9
SW
13
1.7
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.5
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
911
1902
2358
1537
932
700
603
1144
5133
4676
5800
6849
5162
4180
3009
1886
1242
917
689
666
634
Wind (km/h)
5
NE
5
E
10
E
10
WNW
15
W
5
WSW
5
NNW
5
SW
5
SSW
10
NW
5
WSW
10
WSW
5
NNW
10
E
25
E
10
NNE
0
NNE
5
E
10
NNE
5
N
10
ENE
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
off
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
11:15PM1.39m
11:51AM1.21m
00:14AM1.45m
12:47PM1.28m
1:01AM1.50m
1:32PM1.35m
1:40AM1.54m
2:09PM1.42m
2:16AM1.58m
2:43PM1.48m
2:50AM1.60m
3:16PM1.52m
3:23AM1.61m
3:48PM1.54m
Low Tide
5:52AM0.54m
5:48PM0.54m
6:48AM0.46m
6:43PM0.50m
7:30AM0.39m
7:28PM0.45m
8:05AM0.33m
8:06PM0.41m
8:37AM0.28m
8:41PM0.37m
9:08AM0.24m
9:14PM0.34m
9:38AM0.23m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:18
7:20
7:20
7:20
7:22
7:22
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:29
5:29
5:28
5:28
5:27
5:27
5:27
5:25
Temp °C
16
20
21
18
18
18
15
18
18
15
18
19
15
18
19
17
20
22
19
24
25
16
20
20
18
16
17
15
18
17
15
17
17
14
17
16
16
20
21
17
23
24
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SW
14
2.2
SW
14
2.4
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
1.7
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
1.5
SW
12
1.8
SW
13
3
SW
18
3
SW
17
3.5
SW
16
4
SW
16
3.5
SW
15
3
SW
15
2.5
SW
14
2.3
SW
14
1.9
SW
13
1.7
SW
13
1.6
SW
12
1.6
SW
12
1.5
SW
12
Energy kJ
911
1902
2358
1537
932
700
603
1144
5133
4676
5800
6849
5162
4180
3009
1886
1242
917
689
666
634
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SSE
11
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
ESE
6
0.4
E
7
1.1
SW
15
1
SSW
19
0.2
ESE
11
1.6
ESE
7
1
E
7
0.9
ESE
7
0.8
ESE
7
0.9
E
7
0.9
E
8
Energy kJ
66
40
38
34
12
14
472
758
12
219
89
75
65
88
93
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.2
E
10
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
E
7
0.2
E
9
0.2
ESE
11
Energy kJ
18
17
17
7
14
13
8
6
12
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ENE
10
0.9
WSW
5
0.8
SW
5
1.8
ESE
6
1.9
E
7
Energy kJ
33
45
34
269
327
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
5
5
6
7
6
5
5
4
3
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
0
0
8
0
7
7
0
0
0
0
8
8
8
11
26
0
0
8
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
6
5
6
7
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
5
6
5
6
7
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
5
4
5
9
6
7
7
6
9
7
9
6
5
5
5
5
6
6
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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