Surf Forecasts:
The Heads surf forecast from 2 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 2 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 6,481 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 2 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s 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 Thursday (Jul 02) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 2nd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 2nd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, mates. Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s heading our way.
The start is a bit rough. Thursday afternoon we have some 10ft SW swell, but a cross-shore breeze and chop makes it pretty average. Best to sit it out.
Friday morning July 3rd is where things turn. That SE groundswell hits 6ft with a 11-second period, and a light offshore with glassy conditions will have The Heads clean and tempting. The water temp is about 63°F, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year. The afternoon bumps it up to 6ft at 12 seconds – still glassy, and the quality jumps.
Saturday the 4th is our first true standout. The Heads sandbar is looking at a strong 7ft ESE swell, 12-second period, and glassy conditions in the morning. The combined energy is 1444 (moderate-strong). That’s a bit much for beginners at 7ft, but for the experienced local crew, it’ll be firing. The afternoon switches to a cross-off breeze – still clean but the swell drops a fraction. Crowds are sometimes, so expect company.
Sunday the 5th stays clean but drops to 5ft in the morning, with that 12-second period off the ESE. Nice lines but less push. By the afternoon it’s 5ft and glassy – a good cruise session.
Monday the 6th brings a 7ft SW swell, but a cross-shore breeze puts a ripple on it. The afternoon cleans up to a glassy 6ft SW swell – much better.
Tuesday the 7th has a 6ft SW groundswell with zero wind – dead calm and glassy in the morning. The combined energy is 777 (moderate). A sneaky good glass-off session.
Wednesday the 8th gets lumpy – 8ft SW swell with cross-shore wind and rain. The quality is off.
Thursday the 9th: massive 13ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period. That’s for experts only. The combined energy is 6491 (very strong). Too big for the sandbar.
Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th are cleaner, with 8ft and 8ft SSW swells, some glassy windows, and good conditions.
Sunday the 12th afternoon is a real standout: a 7ft S swell with a very long 16-second period, combined energy of 3580 (strong), and clean glassy conditions. That’s a deep-water groundswell that will test your lineup knowledge. Crowds are possible.
Monday the 13th has a 6ft S swell in the morning with a light offshore NNE breeze – clean and tidy. The afternoon brings an 8ft ESE swell but the period drops to 9 seconds, making it shorter and punchier.
The following week, from Tuesday the 14th, the swell winds down. A 7ft ESE swell in the morning is okay, then a glassy 7ft in the afternoon. Wednesday the 15th is small – 5ft and 4ft – clean but mellow.
Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th get enormous again – 12ft to 15ft SW/W swells, with cross-off winds. The combined energy on Friday morning hits a crazy 11771 (extremely strong). That’s not a paddle session – it’s tow-in or a spectator event. Kite surfers might love it, but for paddle surfing it’s too much.
The top calls are Saturday the 4th morning with that 7ft ESE glass-off, and Sunday the 12th afternoon with the long-period S swell and clean conditions. Lock them in.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thu 2 | Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 9 | SE 11 | SE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1396 | 965 | 659 | 974 | 1799 | 1236 | 948 | 782 | 636 | 518 | 341 | 1180 | 897 | 688 | 708 | 663 | 1565 | 2241 | 1783 | 5952 | 6481 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 8:36PM1.48m | 9:05AM1.23m | 9:46PM1.44m | 10:33AM1.20m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:05PM0.42m | 3:05AM0.50m | 3:08PM0.50m | 4:23AM0.51m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |
 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 |
 | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | 5:31 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 120 | 965 | 478 | 974 | 1799 | 1236 | 948 | 782 | 636 | 518 | 341 | 1180 | 897 | 688 | 708 | 663 | 1565 | 2241 | 1783 | 5952 | 6481 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | ESE 10 | SE 16 |
| kJ | 16 | 128 | 659 | 272 | 302 | 145 | 162 | 132 | 168 | 96 | 260 | 207 | 183 | 106 | 69 | 57 | 152 | 637 | 1221 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | E 8 | SW 13 | WSW 8 | S 10 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 10 | S 8 | ESE 11 | E 11 | — | S 22 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 18 | — |
| kJ | 9 | 6 | 46 | 112 | 16 | 63 | 173 | 174 | 238 | 144 | 171 | 1 | 183 | 2 | — | 9 | 38 | 23 | 8 | 12 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — | — |
| kJ | 1396 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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