The Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.07° S 23.06° E

Issued: 7 pm 09 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Heads sea temperature is
18.3° 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 9 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 12 Jun, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 12 Jun, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SW swell with 3,221 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 9 Jun, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 09) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 10s. 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jun 12) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 9th Jun)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 12th Jun)13ft (4.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 5AM (Fri 12th Jun)13ft (4.0m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Heads over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tue
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
!
3
3
4
1
3
3
2
3
1
2
2
2
2
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)
1.7
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
1.9
SW
11
1.9
SW
11
1.8
SW
12
2.5
SW
11
3.5
SW
11
3
SW
11
2.1
SW
10
2.5
SSW
12
3
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
12
2.2
SSW
12
2
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
11
1.6
SSW
11
1.6
SSW
10
1.6
SSW
10
1.7
SSW
10
0.9
SSW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
792
1160
1130
930
914
897
1625
2985
1782
936
1744
2591
2221
1384
1080
724
617
564
520
555
176
Wind (km/h)
5
NE
0
NNE
5
E
5
N
15
WSW
5
ENE
25
WSW
15
W
10
W
5
NNE
5
E
25
WSW
20
WNW
15
W
5
SW
10
NNW
15
W
10
W
5
NW
5
ESE
0
S
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
glassy
off
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross
off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
10:45PM1.44m
11:26AM1.25m
11:52PM1.53m
12:33PM1.35m
00:52AM1.63m
1:31PM1.46m
1:46AM1.72m
2:22PM1.56m
2:38AM1.79m
3:11PM1.65m
3:27AM1.82m
3:58PM1.71m
4:14AM1.80m
4:45PM1.74m
Low Tide
5:18AM0.48m
5:20PM0.49m
6:23AM0.37m
6:27PM0.41m
7:20AM0.25m
7:27PM0.32m
8:12AM0.15m
8:22PM0.23m
9:01AM0.08m
9:14PM0.16m
9:48AM0.04m
10:04PM0.14m
10:33AM0.04m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:30
7:30
7:30
7:31
7:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:23
5:23
5:23
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:24
 mm
1
2
1
1
Temp °C
15
18
19
16
17
18
15
15
16
14
16
17
14
15
15
13
14
15
13
13
14
Feels °C
15
18
19
15
15
16
14
12
13
13
15
15
9
12
12
12
10
11
11
12
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
2.1
SW
12
1.9
SW
11
1.9
SW
11
1.8
SW
12
0.4
E
9
3.5
SW
11
3
SW
11
2.1
SW
10
2.5
SSW
12
3
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
12
2.2
SSW
12
2
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
11
1.6
SSW
11
1.6
SSW
10
1.6
SSW
10
1.7
SSW
10
0.9
SSW
10
Energy kJ
792
1160
1130
930
914
897
24
2631
1782
936
1744
2591
2221
1384
1080
724
617
564
520
555
176
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.5
SSW
13
0.2
E
9
0.3
E
11
0.3
E
12
0.8
SSE
7
0.7
SE
7
0.6
SE
7
0.6
SE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.9
ESE
8
0.8
SW
9
Energy kJ
94
67
42
41
28
39
14
14
99
7
23
24
59
45
39
51
59
56
83
101
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
10
0.1
E
12
0.4
E
11
0.4
E
10
0.3
ESE
10
0.5
S
14
0.4
SW
11
0.4
SW
11
0.6
SW
10
0.6
SSW
14
Energy kJ
8
3
37
33
19
106
43
43
80
145
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
WSW
4
2.5
SW
11
3.5
SW
11
0.9
WSW
11
0.6
WSW
4
1.3
WSW
6
0.9
ESE
8
Energy kJ
10
1625
2985
191
10
104
110
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
6
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
2
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
7
0
29
8
8
0
0
84
7
7
7
0
7
7
0
8
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Garden Route
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
3
4
3
3
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
3
4
3
4
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
3
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
7
8
6
6
5
5
7
6
5
4
5
5
5
4
5
5
4
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)
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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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