Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.2° C
0.8° 

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 16 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 17,194 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. 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 6.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 11s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Mon 17th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s
Best Surf 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug)20ft (6.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug)20ft (6.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let me tell you how it’s shaping up at Whale Rock for the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it’s a rough start with a whole lot of nothing on offer for the first week or so. Whale Rock is a tricky reef that’s inconsistent and only for the advanced crew when it does fire, so we’re used to waiting it out. The water temp is sitting around 70°F, which is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

From Sunday the 16th through to the end of the first week, it’s pretty grim. The wind’s mostly cross-on or cross, often fresh, and the waves are small and weak – not worth paddling for. There’s a bit of energy on Monday the 17th afternoon with a 5ft easterly swell (combined energy at 482), but it’s cross-shore and marginal, just not clean enough. Tuesday the 18th morning has a similar 4ft easterly swell, again, cross-shore wind and marginal surf. The whole stretch from the 16th to the 22nd is poor, with the swell never really locking in and the wind working against us. You’d be better off doing something else.

Now, hold onto your board – there’s a proper standout coming. On Sunday the 23rd of August in the morning, a big SSW swell rolls in at 15ft (combined energy a massive 7526), with a 14-second period and clean cross-offshore wind out of the SW. That’s a solid groundswell, but the wind is a strong breeze, so it’s gonna be raw and powerful. This is for experts only – over 8ft, so beginners stay clear. The swell direction from the SSW matches the optimum S direction pretty well for this exposed reef, and the period is long enough to give it shape, but with that size, paddle out is a mission.

But the real gem? Monday the 24th of August morning is the absolute best of the forecast. We’ve got a 13ft S groundswell (combined energy 8249) with a 16-second period – that’s very long period, proper groundswell that’ll draw nicely into the reef. The wind is glassy, flat calm from the SE at just 3 mph. It’s described as ‘exceptional surf conditions for expert surfers’ and scores a 9 out of 10 internally. This is the one to circle on your calendar. The crowd factor – Whale Rock can get busy sometimes, and with a standout like this, expect a few others in the water.

That Monday afternoon the swell drops to 12ft with a light cross-on breeze, still big and heavy but less clean. Tuesday the 25th morning drops to 8ft with a moderate onshore, messy and not worth it. After that, the second week fades fast – from Wednesday the 26th onward it’s small, weak, and choppy, with heights barely reaching 3ft and combined energy under 600. There’s a brief flash on Saturday the 30th morning with a 3ft SSW swell and light cross-shore wind, but it’s only marginal. Monday the 31st morning sees a 6ft SSW swell (combined energy 1123) with light cross-shore wind and a 3 internally, but by then the window is closing.

Bottom line: the first week is a write-off, then a massive two-day window on Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th August. Monday morning is the absolute standout – glassy, huge, and clean for the experts. After that, it’s small and ordinary again.
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the NE by Fri afternoon).

Sun
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
E
11
0.3
SW
12
0.2
SSW
11
1.4
E
10
1.2
E
10
1.1
E
10
0.4
SW
15
0.9
SSW
14
1
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.8
SSW
13
1.2
SSW
15
2.1
SSW
15
1.5
SSW
13
1.3
SSW
12
1
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
12
1.9
SSW
7
3
SSW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
284
23
11
424
284
226
57
325
368
367
282
209
679
1902
744
459
303
784
335
1707
Wind (km/h)
30
NE
10
NNE
10
S
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
SSW
15
S
0
W
25
NE
25
NE
30
SW
30
SW
20
S
0
N
30
NE
35
NE
15
NNE
30
SSW
30
SSW
20
SW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
6:02PM1.69m
6:09AM1.49m
6:31PM1.56m
6:38AM1.37m
6:59PM1.42m
7:06AM1.24m
7:29PM1.27m
7:37AM1.10m
8:07PM1.12m
8:30AM0.96m
9:52PM0.99m
12:26PM0.93m
00:56AM1.04m
Low Tide
00:10AM0.19m
12:12PM0.15m
00:39AM0.29m
12:41PM0.28m
1:08AM0.42m
1:10PM0.43m
1:42AM0.55m
1:43PM0.58m
2:33AM0.68m
2:43PM0.72m
5:18AM0.75m
6:19PM0.76m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:39
 mm
3
Temp °C
22
20
21
20
18
18
19
19
20
22
20
18
19
18
18
20
22
22
21
18
Feels °C
18
18
20
19
18
17
18
19
17
19
18
13
15
17
14
15
19
16
15
14
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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