Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 03 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
20.4°C
0.0° 

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 3 Sep 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 18s period, S swell with 4,084 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whale Rock this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Whale Rock in the next 16 days are 2.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 7th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.

Honestly, for the next 16 days, it’s a rough stretch here at Whale Rock. We’ve got a big, empty ocean on the horizon, but the local winds are going to mess it up almost every time. The first solid pulse of swell doesn't really show up until the middle of the second week, and even then, conditions will be a fight.

The water temp is sitting at 69°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no weirdness there.

The 16-day window starts off with a long, frustrating gap. From Thursday, September 3rd right through until Monday, September 14th, there is almost nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is constantly cross or cross-onshore, and when the swell does show up early on, it’s either messy, blown out, or the period is too short. The combined swell energy will hit some massive numbers like 1889 and 2209, but it’s all junk with the wind, so it’s just a washing machine.

The one true standout, the best we’ve got, is the afternoon of Tuesday, September 15th. We’ll see an 8ft swell out of the S, which is proper, but only for experts at that size. The wind will be a moderate cross-shore from the SSW, which is the cleanest wind we’ll see for any significant swell. Despite a "marginal" tag, this is the window to watch. The combined swell energy is a very strong 2157, meaning there’s plenty of power, but those longer-period S swells are best handled by this reef setup. Crowds are possible here.

There’s also a morning session on Tuesday, September 15th, with 5ft swell and a cross-shore wind, but the afternoon is the better bet for size.

After that, we drop right back down into choppy, cross-onshore junk for the rest of the forecast. The morning of Friday, September 18th actually has clean-looking conditions with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell is only 2ft, so it’s a foil or nothing.

Pretty grim, to be honest. For 16 days, there’s just that one Tuesday afternoon that looks like it might fire.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 64mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Thu night, light winds from the NNE by Sat night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NE by Tue morning).

Thu
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
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
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
11
2.5
S
8
3.5
S
9
3
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
9
1.8
SSE
8
1.8
SE
8
1.1
SSW
11
1.3
E
10
0.9
SSW
22
2.5
S
18
2.1
S
16
1.2
SSW
15
1.1
S
12
1
S
12
0.7
S
11
0.4
SSE
10
0.3
SSE
9
0.2
SSW
16
0.4
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
217
690
1889
1815
948
477
459
297
339
686
4084
2209
588
344
282
110
32
16
25
54
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
45
SSW
30
S
25
SSE
15
ENE
25
NE
25
ENE
10
NNE
20
ENE
25
ENE
30
NE
35
NE
40
NE
20
NNE
20
NE
30
NE
20
NE
20
NE
25
NE
25
SW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
7:17PM1.38m
7:37AM1.16m
8:19PM1.19m
9:14AM1.01m
10:43PM1.09m
12:16PM1.06m
00:52AM1.19m
1:33PM1.26m
1:51AM1.35m
2:19PM1.46m
2:33AM1.49m
2:56PM1.63m
3:09AM1.60m
Low Tide
1:36AM0.46m
1:46PM0.51m
2:53AM0.62m
3:33PM0.67m
5:39AM0.64m
6:28PM0.62m
7:16AM0.48m
7:43PM0.44m
8:04AM0.30m
8:29PM0.27m
8:41AM0.15m
9:06PM0.14m
cloud
thunderstorm
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:47
5:47
5:49
5:49
5:50
5:51
 mm
42
12
1
1
1
2
1
4
1
Temp °C
23
21
18
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
18
19
17
21
22
20
26
24
23
Feels °C
24
20
12
12
13
13
13
14
15
14
13
12
13
13
19
20
17
25
23
22
  • 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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