Surf Forecasts:
The Heads surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 8,562 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 5.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks at The Heads. It’s a mixed bag, so you gotta be smart about when you paddle out. There’s a slow start, but a few solid windows are coming.
The Overall Picture
The first few days are pretty average. We’re waiting for a real pulse of swell to fill in and clean up. Once that arrives, we get a big weekend of surf, but it might be too much of a good thing. The second week calms down, with a few cleaner and more manageable days.
The Early Days (Tue 18th – Wed 19th)
Tuesday morning is pretty lackluster. A 7ft SW swell with a 13-second period, but a light cross-shore breeze is putting a bit of texture on it. The energy is moderate at 1394. The water is a cold 57°F, which is 6°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s really unusual, so break out the thickest wetsuit and booties.
Tuesday afternoon shapes up far better. The swell bumps slightly to 8ft, but the wind drops to glassy and clean. This is a good window and the start of the better conditions.
Wednesday is a letdown. Morning has 8ft of SW swell, but the cross-breeze makes it lumpy. The afternoon sees the wind pick up, making it messy. I’d give that day a miss.
The Big Weekend Swell (Thu 20th – Sun 23rd)
Thursday morning is where it gets serious. We’ve got a solid 12ft SSW groundswell with a 13-second period, and the energy is cranking at 4315, which is strong. The wind is glassy, but this is simply too big for The Heads. It’s a sandbar, and it’s going to be a washing machine. This is experts-only, and even then, it’s a risk.
The rest of Thursday and Friday sees the swell dip, but winds are poor, with a cross-on breeze that will chop it all up. Not worth the drive.
Saturday morning still has plenty of size (8ft) but the wind is messy. Saturday afternoon is a definite no-go – the wind jumps to 22 mph cross-shore, and the swell jumps to 13ft. That’s a write-off. The energy is massive (4229), but it’s just a stormy, blown-out mess. You’d be better off on a kiteboard.
Sunday morning is still too big at 12ft, even with light wind. But Sunday afternoon is a different story. The swell drops to a more manageable 10ft, the wind goes glassy, and the energy is still strong at 2146. This is an excellent window for experienced surfers. Powerful, clean sets. This is the standout session of the first stretch. It’ll be a challenge, but the conditions will be perfect.
The Middle Stretch (Mon 24th – Wed 27th)
After the weekend, things calm down. Monday has leftover energy but light cross-on winds make it bumpy. Tuesday is not much better, with a moderate cross-shore making it hard work.
Wednesday is where we get a real gem. The swell drops to a friendly 6ft, and the wind is offshore and light. It’s going to be clean as a whistle. The period is a solid 13 seconds, so there’s some push. This is a great day for a more relaxed session. Watch out, because it will be crowded.
The Final Week (Thu 28th – Wed 2nd Sept)
Thursday morning looks promising. There’s a nice 5ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, and it’s glassy. This creates powerful, clean waves, though the long period can make the sandbar a bit straight. Still, it’ll be fun and punchy. This is another standout.
After that, the waves get more consistent, but the winds turn onshore and quality drops. Friday and Saturday are marginal. Sunday the 30th sees a huge energy spike (9865) with an 12ft swell and fresh crosswinds, making it too big and blown out.
The first two days of September look average. Then Wednesday the 2nd has another massive pulse of 12ft+ swell, but it’s glassy. At that size, it’s again only for experts. It’s promising, but it’s a long way out, so let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.
The Bottom Line
Your best bets are Tuesday afternoon (Aug 18th) for a clean, fun session, and Sunday afternoon (Aug 20th) for a powerful, clean, expert-level session. Also, keep an eye on Wednesday morning (Aug 26th) and Thursday morning (Aug 28th) for some cleaner, smaller waves. Plenty to keep you busy if you pick your moments.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1339 | 1670 | 2381 | 1860 | 1693 | 1476 | 4308 | 3314 | 1824 | 1250 | 614 | 702 | 1249 | 4216 | 7112 | 3244 | 2146 | 1257 | 915 | 848 | 1518 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 6:58PM1.48m | 7:10AM1.26m | 7:31PM1.31m | 7:49AM1.12m | 8:20PM1.16m | 9:23AM1.00m | 10:47PM1.07m | 12:37PM1.04m | 00:51AM1.16m | 1:37PM1.19m | 1:41AM1.29m | 2:11PM1.34m | 2:15AM1.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:38PM0.38m | 1:11AM0.49m | 1:08PM0.53m | 1:49AM0.63m | 1:47PM0.68m | 2:58AM0.75m | 3:17PM0.82m | 6:04AM0.77m | 6:39PM0.79m | 7:27AM0.63m | 7:40PM0.65m | 8:02AM0.49m | 8:15PM0.51m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | E 5 | E 8 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 12 |
1339 | 1670 | 2381 | 1860 | 1693 | 1476 | 4308 | 3314 | 1824 | 1250 | 614 | 702 | 2 | 13 | 7112 | 3244 | 2146 | 1257 | 915 | 848 | 1518 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SW 11 | ESE 5 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | — |
55 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 347 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 503 | 140 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 3 | SW 10 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1249 | 4216 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 26 | 0 | 7 | 425 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 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.











