The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

Issued: 7 pm 26 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.4° 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 26 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 28 Jun, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 29 Jun, 5AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 11,508 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 27 Jun, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jun 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jun 29) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 03) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Sat 27th Jun)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Best Surf 5PM (Sun 28th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 5AM (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 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Fri
3
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
3
4
4
4
!
!
!
!
4
4
3
1
1
1
3
3
3
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)
2.3
SSW
15
2
SSW
14
2.1
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
13
3.5
SW
12
4.5
SW
16
4.5
SW
14
4
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
2.2
SW
11
1.7
SSW
11
2.1
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
1.8
SW
11
1.1
SW
10
1.2
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2274
1621
1570
1452
1352
3286
10343
7583
5446
3397
2522
1626
1031
865
1172
681
1250
1149
846
260
459
Wind (km/h)
15
NNE
15
WSW
5
SW
0
NNE
15
WNW
15
W
25
W
25
WSW
10
W
10
NE
5
NNE
5
ESE
15
W
20
W
15
WSW
15
WNW
10
NNW
5
NW
5
N
10
NNW
10
WNW
Wind State
off
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:57AM1.43m
2:30PM1.37m
2:37AM1.49m
3:07PM1.44m
3:13AM1.54m
3:41PM1.50m
3:47AM1.58m
4:14PM1.55m
4:19AM1.60m
4:47PM1.58m
4:51AM1.59m
5:18PM1.60m
5:22AM1.57m
5:51PM1.60m
Low Tide
8:21AM0.40m
8:29PM0.48m
8:57AM0.33m
9:07PM0.41m
9:31AM0.28m
9:42PM0.36m
10:03AM0.23m
10:15PM0.34m
10:34AM0.20m
10:48PM0.33m
11:04AM0.19m
11:21PM0.33m
11:34AM0.20m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
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>
5:27
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:28
5:29
5:29
5:29
 mm
5
2
1
1
2
Temp °C
22
20
20
16
22
23
15
12
12
11
13
16
12
13
14
13
14
17
14
14
16
Feels °C
19
17
19
17
19
21
10
7
7
9
11
14
10
9
10
9
11
13
11
12
14
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
SSW
15
2
SSW
14
2.1
SW
14
2.1
SW
13
2.1
SW
13
3
SW
12
4.5
SW
16
4.5
SW
14
4
SW
14
3
SW
13
3
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
2.2
SW
11
1.7
SSW
11
2.1
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
1.8
SW
11
1.1
SW
10
1.2
SW
13
Energy kJ
2274
1621
1570
1452
1352
2269
10343
7583
5446
3397
2522
1626
1031
865
1172
681
1250
1149
846
260
459
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
ESE
7
0.6
ESE
8
0.5
E
7
0.4
ESE
7
0.5
SSW
20
1.6
SSW
18
0.6
S
11
1
S
11
1
S
10
0.7
E
8
0.8
E
9
0.6
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.9
S
10
1
SSE
9
1.2
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
Energy kJ
59
44
28
17
218
1539
87
231
194
64
99
60
27
145
181
218
172
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SE
8
0.1
S
24
0.2
SSW
21
0.3
E
7
0.3
E
7
0.2
E
9
0.4
ESE
6
0.7
S
9
0.4
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.8
SW
13
0.2
E
9
Energy kJ
42
11
45
9
8
6
11
76
27
15
199
6
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
WSW
4
3.5
SW
12
0.3
ENE
9
1.2
SSW
6
1.3
SW
6
1.5
WSW
7
0.2
NNW
2
0.9
WSW
8
Energy kJ
8
3286
16
90
130
218
1
83
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
8
6
8
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
Distance (km)
0
7
0
0
0
8
496
8
8
0
0
8
7
7
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
8
8
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
8
6
8
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
6
5
9
7
5
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
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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