Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,657 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. 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 2.1m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) 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 1.1m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s size up Whale Rock over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a rough start. There’s a blank run of nearly a week before anything looks worth paddling out for. Saturday morning the 8th starts with a 3ft SSW groundswell (15 seconds) and 581 units of moderate energy, but the wind is side-shore and already the forecast is calling it marginal. Sunday the 9th is clean but the wind gets nasty, and by Monday the 10th a 8ft S swell is blowing out with short, choppy period. The first week is mostly a loss for a surfer.
The real highlight is Thursday morning, the 13th of August. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a 5ft ESE swell (8 seconds). The energy is moderate at 508 units, and the conditions are described as “very good.” For a break that’s inconsistent and expert-only, that’s a rare, clean window. The swell direction is a bit off the preferred S, but with that kind of glass, you take it. Water temp is about 70°, which is normal for the season.
After that, things get messy again with onshore wind and chop. There are a couple more glassy moments late in the run – Saturday morning the 22nd with a 4ft SSW swell but a short 6-second period, and Sunday the 23rd afternoon with a 5ft SSW swell (10 seconds) and 402 units of energy. Those are worth a look if you’re patient.
Whale Rock is a moody spot. The first week is a washout, but Thursday the 13th is your standout. The late glassy spells are promising but not locked in. Pick your moment.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 13 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | E 11 | E 10 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 461 | 362 | 253 | 367 | 397 | 699 | 724 | 338 | 527 | 531 | 1421 | 604 | 558 | 367 | 300 | 262 | 177 | 276 | 267 | 266 | 259 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:51AM1.05m | 00:36AM1.24m | 1:28PM1.20m | 1:50AM1.37m | 2:25PM1.38m | 2:42AM1.50m | 3:10PM1.55m | 3:24AM1.61m | 3:49PM1.69m | 4:02AM1.67m | 4:26PM1.78m | 4:36AM1.68m | 5:00PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:54PM0.59m | 7:11AM0.48m | 7:30PM0.46m | 8:12AM0.32m | 8:30PM0.31m | 8:57AM0.17m | 9:17PM0.18m | 9:35AM0.05m | 9:57PM0.08m | 10:10AM-0.03m | 10:33PM0.04m | 10:42AM-0.06m | 11:07PM0.05m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 21 | 27 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | E 10 | ENE 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 11 | S 13 | S 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 11 | E 10 | E 8 |
| kJ | 461 | 270 | 144 | 367 | 86 | 45 | 28 | 205 | 132 | 531 | 1421 | 349 | 558 | 367 | 281 | 262 | 93 | 82 | 267 | 266 | 259 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ENE 9 | SE 7 | SW 13 | SW 12 | E 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | E 9 | E 10 | S 10 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 65 | 362 | 253 | 137 | 8 | 45 | 40 | 47 | 87 | 472 | 68 | 312 | 196 | 288 | 200 | 66 | 103 | 54 | 77 | 71 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | NE 8 | — | SW 12 | SSW 11 | E 10 | — | E 9 | SW 24 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | S 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 14 | — | 38 | 105 | 49 | — | 129 | 22 | 143 | 119 | 180 | 177 | 276 | 100 | 61 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 11 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 10 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 47 | — | 10 | 27 | 397 | 699 | 724 | 338 | 527 | 147 | 229 | 604 | 226 | — | 300 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 39 | 1 | 114 | 446 | 461 | 114 | 39 | 54 | 643 | 39 | 589 | 593 | 621 | 16 | 0 | 182 | 0 | 154 | 182 | 10 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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