The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

Issued: 1 pm 30 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
17.6° 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 30 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 2 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 3,483 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 30 Jun, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 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 Tuesday (Jun 30) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Tue 30th Jun)7ft (2.1m) 12s
Best Surf 5PM (Thu 2nd Jul)11ft (3.5m) 8s
Most Powerful11AM (Mon 6th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 14s

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 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the W by Thu afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
4
3
0
!
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
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
13
1.9
SW
12
1.9
SSW
12
1.8
SSW
14
2
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
12
3.5
SW
8
3
SW
9
2.1
SE
11
2.2
SE
11
2.3
ESE
12
2.1
ESE
12
1.7
ESE
12
1.5
ESE
12
1.3
ESE
12
2.2
SW
11
3
SW
12
3
SSW
14
2.5
SSW
13
2.4
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1789
1059
972
1303
1321
658
1754
1312
954
1110
1536
1277
878
680
480
1051
2256
3483
2537
1706
1527
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
5
NNW
5
WSW
5
WSW
20
W
35
W
35
WSW
10
WNW
5
N
5
S
10
NNW
10
WNW
10
WSW
10
NNE
10
NNW
10
WSW
5
NE
10
ENE
5
E
10
N
5
N
Wind State
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
off
High Tide
4:14PM1.55m
4:19AM1.60m
4:47PM1.58m
4:51AM1.59m
5:18PM1.60m
5:22AM1.57m
5:51PM1.60m
5:54AM1.53m
6:24PM1.59m
6:29AM1.47m
7:01PM1.57m
7:10AM1.40m
7:43PM1.53m
7:59AM1.31m
Low Tide
10:15PM0.34m
10:34AM0.20m
10:48PM0.33m
11:04AM0.19m
11:21PM0.33m
11:34AM0.20m
11:55PM0.35m
12:05PM0.23m
00:32AM0.38m
12:39PM0.27m
1:14AM0.41m
1:18PM0.34m
2:03AM0.46m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
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>
5:28
5:29
5:29
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
 mm
6
1
Temp °C
16
12
15
15
13
13
15
14
16
18
15
18
17
14
19
20
15
19
22
19
23
Feels °C
14
10
13
13
12
6
7
8
13
16
13
14
12
10
16
17
15
17
21
17
20
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
SW
13
1.9
SW
12
1.9
SSW
12
1.8
SSW
14
2
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
12
0.4
ESE
9
2.5
SW
9
2.1
SE
11
2.2
SE
11
2.3
ESE
12
2.1
ESE
12
1.7
ESE
12
1.5
ESE
12
1.4
WSW
9
2.2
SW
11
3
SW
12
3
SSW
14
2.5
SSW
13
2.4
SW
12
2.2
SW
13
Energy kJ
1789
1059
972
1303
1321
658
25
971
954
1110
1536
1277
878
680
333
1051
2256
3483
2537
1706
1527
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
9
0.8
SSE
9
0.8
SSW
15
1.1
SW
12
0.6
E
8
0.5
E
8
0.7
SE
11
1.5
SW
8
1.3
SW
12
0.8
WSW
9
1.2
SW
10
1.6
SW
9
1.4
SW
8
1.3
ESE
12
1.2
ESE
12
1
ESE
12
0.9
ESE
11
0.8
ESE
11
0.7
ESE
11
0.5
E
6
Energy kJ
6
99
292
349
51
36
123
319
450
110
275
437
286
480
384
285
219
157
105
20
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
9
0.2
E
5
0.4
E
9
0.5
SE
7
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
13
0.2
WSW
11
0.8
SW
12
0.4
SSW
17
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
ESE
5
0.4
ESE
11
Energy kJ
6
2
27
26
147
108
12
158
119
173
174
153
125
8
45
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SW
4
2.2
WSW
7
3.5
SW
8
3
SW
9
2.1
WSW
9
0.6
E
4
0.5
E
4
Energy kJ
35
431
1754
1312
691
9
9
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
4
4
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
7
360
360
0
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
5
8
7
5
8
5
9
5
4
5
6
9
9
9
7
6
8
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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