Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 13 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.2° C
0.4° 

Whale Rock surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Whale Rock surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 14s period, S swell with 2,103 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with E swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whale Rock this week:

The surf forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Whale Rock in the next 16 days are 2.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 14th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 8s
Best Surf 5AM (Tue 14th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 9s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 18th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.


G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at how the surf’s shaping up for Whale Rock over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag on the cards. The first proper nod for a paddle comes Tuesday morning, 14 July. That’s where the week starts to look a little interesting. Tuesday morning is the standout – clean, glassy conditions with a 7ft easterly swell, period around 9 seconds, and the combined energy hitting 734 (moderate). The wind is glass, so the surface will be a dream. That’s the best window across the whole outlook, no question.

The swell is a bit short-period, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but for a reef break like Whale Rock, that’s still going to push through with some shape. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is about average for this time of year, no surprises there.

Tuesday afternoon stays clean on the surface but the wind shifts cross-on, so it won’t be as tidy. Wednesday morning (15 July) has a similar size swell coming from the east at 6ft, period 10 seconds, and a cross-off breeze – clean enough to ride, but the scores say it’s marginal. The energy is moderate (581). Thursday has a similar story, drop in size to 5ft, still east, still light cross-on breeze.

Friday (17 July) drops right off. Swell fades to 4ft by the morning and 2ft by the afternoon, and the wind gets messy. Saturday (18 July) sees a spike in swell – 8ft from the south with a 14-second period, energy 2222 (strong) – but the wind is howling onshore at 22 mph, making it a total washout. That’s kite-surfing territory, not a paddle.

Sunday and Monday (19-20 July) are quiet, with small swell and mediocre conditions. Then Tuesday 21 July has a tiny 2ft south swell but with a very long 19-second period – that’s a groundswell, but it’s barely there, and the wind is cross. The energy is weak (343).

Wednesday 22 July afternoon is another highlight: glassy, 5ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, energy 943 (moderate). That’s a clean, long-period swell – perfect for a reef like this. The conditions are ideal, no wind ripples. That’s your second-best window.

After that, it’s mostly a write-off. Strong winds, onshore, choppy, and small swell dominate from 23 July through to 27 July. There’s a gap of about four days with nothing worth getting excited about.

Then we get a final glimpse on Tuesday morning, 28 July – a 6ft swell from the southwest, 10-second period, glassy, energy 910 (moderate). That’s a promising but distant call – it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it. The afternoon turns messy again.

Whale Rock is an advanced reef break and it’s inconsistent, so when you get a clean window like Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon, you’ve got to jump on it. Crowds are possible here, but with the inconsistency, you might have it to yourself.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NE by Sat afternoon).

Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
3
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
0
3
0
0
3
0
0
4
1
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
E
7
1.8
E
8
1.9
E
8
2
E
9
2
E
9
1.9
E
10
1.7
E
10
1.6
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.1
E
10
0.7
SSW
15
2.1
SSW
15
2.3
S
14
2.3
S
13
1.9
S
12
1.6
S
12
1.5
SSE
11
1.3
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
251
358
500
664
678
666
557
514
470
479
410
347
239
209
1801
2078
1866
1083
687
494
353
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
20
NE
10
N
5
NE
10
NE
10
WNW
15
SW
10
S
10
WNW
10
NE
20
ENE
10
WNW
25
SW
30
SSW
10
S
25
NE
35
NE
15
N
20
SSW
20
SSW
10
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
3:13PM1.49m
3:30AM1.62m
3:59PM1.61m
4:14AM1.65m
4:42PM1.68m
4:55AM1.65m
5:23PM1.71m
5:33AM1.60m
6:02PM1.69m
6:10AM1.52m
6:40PM1.62m
6:47AM1.42m
7:18PM1.51m
Low Tide
9:00AM0.17m
9:16PM0.19m
9:45AM0.08m
10:04PM0.13m
10:26AM0.02m
10:48PM0.10m
11:05AM0.00m
11:30PM0.13m
11:42AM0.03m
00:10AM0.19m
12:17PM0.09m
00:48AM0.28m
12:52PM0.20m
1:27AM0.38m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:00
7:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:17
 mm
4
2
Temp °C
17
19
18
20
21
19
18
19
18
19
21
19
20
20
18
17
18
18
22
21
18
Feels °C
16
17
16
19
20
18
15
18
18
18
19
15
14
14
15
14
14
14
17
16
16
  • 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 Whale Rock Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Whale Rock provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whale Rock can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whale Rock 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 (Whale Rock) 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 Whale Rock 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.

Whale Rock is 47 km (29 miles) from the city of Port Saint Johns. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Saint Johns. Port Saint Johns has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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