
Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, ESE swell with 1,216 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period with ESE 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 03) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. 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 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial
Alright mate, let’s be straight with you. Whale Rock is the only game in town for this forecast, and it’s a bit of a tricky one. It’s an advanced reef break, and it’s inconsistent, so it takes a special set of conditions to really fire. The water’s sitting at 71°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest wetsuit out there.
We start the week on Monday, August 3rd, with a pulse of 7ft swell from the ESE, but it’s coming with a cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is moderate (1174), but the wind is putting a bit of chop on it, so it’s not the cleanest. The afternoon drops off to 6ft, and the wind picks up, making it choppier. Not the best way to kick things off.
Tuesday, August 4th, is more of the same, with the swell dropping to 5ft and then 5ft. The wind stays onshore all day, so it’s going to be messy. Not worth paddling out for.
Wednesday, August 5th, the swell drops right down to 3ft and 4ft. The wind goes cross-shore, but it’s weak. The energy is low (around 204-322), so you’re looking at weak, small waves. This is one to skip.
Thursday, August 6th, we get a shift. A new long-period groundswell from the SSW arrives, but it’s tiny – only 3ft and 2ft. The period is 16 seconds, which is very long, so it’ll have plenty of energy for its size (581 combined energy in the morning), but it’s breaking straight on a reef. The wind is cross-shore, but it’s a moderate breeze. It’s a tough call for a wave that small.
Friday, August 7th, is a write-off. Showers move in, the swell stays small, and the wind is onshore. The combined energy is low (425). Not worth your time.
Saturday, August 8th, the swell picks up slightly to 3ft from the SSW, with a long period of 16 seconds. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s not clean. The energy is moderate (692), but it’s still small and choppy.
Sunday, August 9th, is probably the best of a bad bunch. The morning’s got a 3ft SSW swell with a 15-second period. The wind goes cross-offshore, and the conditions are described as clean. That’s your window. The combined energy is 406, so it’s not powerful, but if you’re an advanced surfer who knows the reef, you might get a couple of clean ones. Afternoon the wind swings and gets messy.
Now, here’s the big one. Monday, August 10th, a pulse of 8ft swell from the S hits, but it’s a short-period wind swell (9 seconds) with a fresh cross-onshore wind. The combined energy jumps to 1351, which is strong, but the conditions are lumpy and poor. This is going to be a washing machine. Honestly, for a reef break, this looks more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.
Tuesday, August 11th, the swell drops back to 4ft, but it’s a proper long-period groundswell (14 seconds). The wind is onshore again, though, so it’s choppy. The energy is moderate (1053), but the wind ruins it.
Wednesday, August 12th, is a tease. The swell is tiny (3ft and 2ft), but the wind goes glassy in the morning and then glassy again in the afternoon. The combined energy is very low (186 and 111). You’ll be scratching for waves, but if you’re desperate, it’s the cleanest it will be all week.
From Thursday, August 13th, through to Tuesday, August 18th, it’s a long, dry spell. The swell drops to 1.0ft and 1ft, and the wind is either onshore or cross-shore. The combined energy is below 300 for most of it. It’s a proper blank run. There’s a small pulse on Saturday, August 15th, with a 4ft, 16-second SSW swell, but the wind goes onshore in the afternoon, and the morning is cross-shore. It’s marginal at best.
So, the standout? Honestly, there’s no true standout. The closest you’ll get to a decent session is Sunday morning, August 9th, at Whale Rock. That 3ft SSW groundswell with the cross-offshore wind giving clean conditions is your best bet. It’s small, it’s inconsistent, and it’s only for advanced crew, but it’s the only time the stars align.
For the rest, it’s a waiting game. The long-range stuff on August 15th is promising but uncertain – don’t book your whole week around it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 16°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Fri night, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1061 | 776 | 573 | 442 | 380 | 434 | 192 | 255 | 264 | 343 | 226 | 318 | 212 | 129 | 348 | 512 | 437 | 236 | 283 | 501 | 801 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:33PM1.60m | 6:42AM1.42m | 7:09PM1.52m | 7:20AM1.31m | 7:53PM1.41m | 8:10AM1.18m | 8:54PM1.28m | 9:33AM1.06m | 10:39PM1.20m | 11:51AM1.05m | 00:36AM1.24m | 1:28PM1.20m | 1:50AM1.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:15PM0.12m | 00:43AM0.25m | 12:48PM0.20m | 1:23AM0.34m | 1:27PM0.32m | 2:13AM0.45m | 2:18PM0.45m | 3:27AM0.56m | 3:43PM0.57m | 5:27AM0.59m | 5:54PM0.59m | 7:11AM0.48m | 7:30PM0.46m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 24 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 9 |
1061 | 776 | 573 | 442 | 380 | 434 | 192 | 255 | 219 | 188 | 151 | 318 | 212 | 129 | 348 | 512 | 437 | 230 | 283 | 501 | 61 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | ENE 6 | SW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | E 10 | ENE 9 | NE 8 |
97 | 82 | 68 | 38 | 37 | 21 | 39 | 56 | 264 | 343 | 226 | 120 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 116 | 104 | 236 | 92 | 92 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | S 18 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | ENE 6 | E 10 | NE 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 6 | S 9 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | — |
16 | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 26 | 121 | 23 | 119 | 103 | 31 | 57 | — | 17 | 18 | 9 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | — | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 6 | SW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 8 |
— | — | — | 22 | 44 | 104 | — | 49 | 69 | 50 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 27 | — | 7 | 110 | 11 | 13 | 33 | 801 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 43 | 0 | 186 | 289 | 0 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 20 | 144 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 133 | 186 | 154 | 39 | 446 | 238 |
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.











