Surf Forecasts:
The Heads surf forecast from 15 Nov 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 24 Nov, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 24 Nov, 5PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 11,392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 16 Nov, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s 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 (Nov 16) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 6.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Nov 24) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Friday (Nov 27) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 16th Nov) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 24th Nov) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 24th Nov) | 20ft (6.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 15 | Monday 16 | Tuesday 17 | Wednesday 18 | Thursday 19 | Friday 20 | Saturday 21 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | ESE 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1338 | 645 | 442 | 396 | 669 | 996 | 837 | 700 | 689 | 576 | 560 | 600 | 643 | 528 | 1408 | 1401 | 1037 | 974 | 874 | 699 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:40PM1.25m | 7:32AM1.23m | 7:38PM1.15m | 8:52AM1.20m | 9:13PM1.10m | 10:23AM1.25m | 10:54PM1.13m | 11:31AM1.36m | 00:03AM1.24m | 12:22PM1.49m | 00:54AM1.36m | 1:07PM1.63m | 1:38AM1.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:02AM0.54m | 1:41PM0.71m | 2:06AM0.61m | 3:15PM0.73m | 3:31AM0.64m | 4:51PM0.67m | 4:53AM0.60m | 5:58PM0.54m | 5:56AM0.51m | 6:47PM0.39m | 6:47AM0.40m | 7:30PM0.24m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — |
 | 7:07 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:14 | — |
mm | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 1338 | 645 | 442 | 396 | 669 | 996 | 837 | 700 | 689 | 576 | 560 | 318 | 643 | 528 | 1408 | 1401 | 1037 | 974 | 874 | 699 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | S 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | E 9 | SE 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | E 9 | SSW 15 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 7 | E 8 |
| kJ | 12 | 93 | 91 | 115 | 75 | 41 | 13 | 26 | 78 | 29 | 535 | 600 | 194 | 409 | 411 | 437 | 91 | 233 | 125 | 149 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | SSE 11 | SSE 15 | S 21 | SE 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | E 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 64 | 56 | 103 | 78 | 55 | 42 | — | 11 | 21 | 9 | 23 | 176 | 258 | 142 | 4 | 4 | 298 | 237 | 173 | 161 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | S 6 | — | — | — | SE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | W 4 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | — | SE 5 | E 6 | ESE 7 | — | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 32 | 85 | — | — | — | 72 | 309 | 273 | 215 | 408 | — | 19 | 16 | 43 | — | 45 | 173 | 121 | — | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 26 | 7 | 30 | 26 | 0 | 357 | 586 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 7 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 387 | 839 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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