
Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SW swell with 4,722 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whale Rock in the next 16 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Whale Rock.
The overall pattern is a bit of a slow burner. We’ve got a few days of small, marginal surf to kick things off, but the real power – and I mean real power – shows up in the second week. This is a spot that needs a solid push from the south, and we’re going to get it, but patience is the name of the game.
Things start off quiet. From Friday the 17th through Sunday the 19th, we’re looking at waves in the 3 ft to 4 ft range. The wind is mostly light and cross-shore, so it won't be totally blown out, but the energy is weak. It’s a bit of a struggle for a wave, honestly. Not much to write home about.
Monday the 20th morning is the first real glimpse of hope. The swell is 5 ft from the SE, with a period of 12 seconds, and it’s glassy. The energy is starting to build. That’s a nice clean window for a longboard or a fun mid-length, with the water temp sitting at 70°, which is pretty average for the time of year.
The real standout, though, is Wednesday the 22nd afternoon. The wind goes glassy, and we get a jump in size to 8 ft from the SSW. The period is a short 7 seconds though, so it’s going to be a bit soft and lumpy. Still, clean conditions on an 8 ft wave is a decent trade-off.
Now, hold onto your board. The big stuff is coming. On Thursday the 23rd, the swell explodes. We’re talking 13 ft from the SW with a 12-second period and a massive combined energy. This is serious, powerful groundswell. This is for experts only. By the afternoon it’s 10 ft onshore, so the morning is your window.
The next week gets out of control. Monday the 27th is a monster. We’re looking at a 21 ft SSW swell with a 14-second period. The energy is off the charts. The wind is glassy in the morning, but the swell is *too big*, even for this exposed reef. It’s a spectacle, not a surf session. The following days keep the size up, with 12 ft to 10 ft swells, but it’s constantly in the cross-shore or cross-onshore wind.
The best all-round session of the whole forecast, and the one I’d be watching closely, is Saturday the 1st of August. We get a drop in size to a clean 5 ft from the S, with a 10-second period, and it’s glassy. The energy is moderate. That is a perfect, clean, fun-sized day for a crowd. It’s a rare, consistent window of glassy conditions on a decent wave. That’s your pick.
Remember, Whale Rock is an advanced reef break that’s inconsistent, and it's exposed to the south swell. It can get crowded sometimes, so plan for that. The 27th of July is a complete write-off for anyone but the most hardcore chargers. The 1st of August is the one to circle on the calendar.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SE 12 | SSW 10 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
237 | 461 | 319 | 222 | 544 | 329 | 282 | 463 | 1796 | 565 | 736 | 583 | 389 | 297 | 242 | 379 | 649 | 561 | 4722 | 2784 | 637 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | on | off |
High Tide | 6:02PM1.69m | 6:10AM1.52m | 6:40PM1.62m | 6:47AM1.42m | 7:18PM1.51m | 7:23AM1.30m | 7:56PM1.39m | 8:04AM1.18m | 8:41PM1.26m | 8:56AM1.06m | 9:43PM1.15m | 10:27AM0.98m | 11:22PM1.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:42AM0.03m | 00:10AM0.19m | 12:17PM0.09m | 00:48AM0.28m | 12:52PM0.20m | 1:27AM0.38m | 1:28PM0.32m | 2:08AM0.49m | 2:08PM0.45m | 2:59AM0.58m | 2:59PM0.58m | 4:14AM0.66m | 4:23PM0.67m | ||||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SE 12 | SSW 10 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
237 | 461 | 319 | 135 | 544 | 329 | 282 | 463 | 1000 | 565 | 736 | 583 | 389 | 297 | 139 | 168 | 92 | 93 | 1626 | 1310 | 637 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | E 10 | E 10 | S 13 | E 10 | SSE 13 | SSW 10 | S 10 | SE 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SE 12 | ENE 8 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
158 | 196 | 159 | 222 | 127 | 299 | 225 | 200 | 503 | 380 | 90 | 96 | 97 | 277 | 242 | 379 | 140 | 37 | 65 | 33 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | S 15 | E 10 | SW 11 | E 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 10 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 13 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SE 11 | — | SW 12 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 8 |
2 | — | 40 | 125 | 137 | 96 | 192 | 122 | 53 | 29 | 67 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 236 | 182 | — | 73 | 31 | 19 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 10 | — | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | — | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1796 | — | — | 13 | 23 | 46 | 250 | — | 649 | 561 | 4722 | 2784 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 47 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 154 | 0 |
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.










