Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 06 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
20.0°C
0.3° 

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 6 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, S swell with 6,070 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with SW 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 3.0m 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Thu 10th Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 13th Sep)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 7th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start, but there’s a glimmer if you’re patient.

The only break in the game is Whale Rock, a reef setup for advanced surfers only. It’s inconsistent and you might have company sometimes. The water temp is around 68°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on Sunday, September 6th, and it’s ugly. Light rain with an onshore breeze at 15 mph and a 3ft SSW swell (10 seconds) gives us poor conditions. Wave energy is moderate (726), but the wind is trashing it. The afternoon is marginal with a weirdly long 22-second period swell at 4ft, but still not worth it.

From Monday through the end of the first week, it’s all cross-onshore wind and messy surf. Swell heights bounce from 1ft to 8ft, but the wind is from the NE or ENE, blowing hard and making everything lumpy. The combined energy hits a huge peak on Monday morning (3265) with an 8ft S swell at 16 seconds, but with that cross-onshore wind, it’s junk. Long period groundswell wasted.

We hit a real dry spell from Wednesday, September 9th through Saturday, September 12th. Swell drops to almost nothing, with weak energy readings (as low as 23) and cross-shore winds chopping everything up. Nothing to ride.

The first sign of life shows up on Sunday, September 13th. The morning brings a 8ft E swell with a 9-second period and a light ESE breeze at 3 mph. The combined energy is strong (1556), but it’s rated marginal due to tides. The afternoon cleans up with a light cross-offshore breeze from the north at 6 mph and a 3ft SSW swell (14 seconds). Clean, but small.

Monday and Tuesday of the second week are back to mediocrity. The real standout is Friday, September 18th in the morning. Glassy conditions with a light ENE breeze at 3 mph and a solid 6ft S swell at 12 seconds. The combined energy is strong (1276), and conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is your window. The long period groundswell will shape up nicely on the reef, but it’s for experts only.

The final weekend, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September, brings more solid swell (7ft to 8ft from the S and SE), but the wind is messy again. Saturday has cross-shore chop, and Sunday gets hammered by a 28 mph WSW wind. High energy, but not clean.

The pick: Friday morning, September 18th at Whale Rock. Glassy, a solid 6ft S groundswell, and strong energy. That’s your session if you’ve got the chops.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Sun morning, strong winds from the ENE by Mon afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
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
SSW
10
1.1
SSW
22
3
S
18
2.5
S
16
2
S
14
1.5
S
13
0.9
SSE
11
0.7
SSE
11
0.6
SSE
10
0.5
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SW
14
0.9
SSW
6
0.2
SSW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.6
SSW
13
1
SSE
7
1.6
SE
7
1.6
SE
7
2
ESE
7
1.1
SSW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
231
1071
6070
3098
1663
772
198
119
82
63
33
53
45
24
261
113
105
240
233
414
673
Wind (km/h)
25
ESE
20
E
20
NE
35
NE
40
ENE
25
NNE
25
NE
30
NE
20
NE
20
NE
25
NE
5
SW
25
SSW
25
SSW
20
SW
15
ESE
20
E
30
NE
30
ENE
35
ENE
10
NW
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
12:16PM1.06m
00:52AM1.19m
1:33PM1.26m
1:51AM1.35m
2:19PM1.46m
2:33AM1.49m
2:56PM1.63m
3:09AM1.60m
3:29PM1.76m
3:41AM1.67m
4:00PM1.82m
4:12AM1.69m
4:29PM1.83m
4:40AM1.67m
Low Tide
6:28PM0.62m
7:16AM0.48m
7:43PM0.44m
8:04AM0.30m
8:29PM0.27m
8:41AM0.15m
9:06PM0.14m
9:14AM0.03m
9:39PM0.04m
9:45AM-0.03m
10:09PM0.00m
10:14AM-0.05m
10:38PM0.01m
mod rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:13
6:13
6:11
6:09
6:09
6:07
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:49
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:51
5:52
5:52
 mm
7
2
4
1
1
1
2
Temp °C
18
18
17
19
19
18
21
22
21
25
24
23
21
20
20
19
19
19
21
21
20
Feels °C
15
15
15
13
13
13
18
19
19
23
23
23
19
17
18
18
17
16
17
17
17
  • 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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