Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with 2,922 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s is also forecast. 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 2.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s talk about what’s coming up. We’ve only got one spot in the mix here, and it’s a bit of a weird one. Whale Rock is a reef break that’s inconsistent and only for the advanced crew. The water’s a touch warmer than usual for this time of year at 71°. The overall pattern is a real mixed bag – there’s some solid swell energy coming, but the wind is often the enemy.
The stand-out window is Saturday morning, July 25th. That’s our best bet. We’ve got a 4-foot SSW swell rolling in with a long 15-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (1001). But the real story is the glassy offshore wind from the east at 3 mph. That’s going to make it clean as a whistle. It’s a reef break, and that long period will really suit it. The catch is it’s only for experienced surfers, and it can be inconsistent, so you’ll need to be patient. Crowds are possible, but with that inconsistency, it might not be too packed.
Friday the 24th has some size, with 8-foot and 7-foot SSW swell, but the wind is a bit messy and the energy is strong (2952 and 1459). The wave comment flags it as marginal, so it’s not the top pick.
After that Saturday morning, it goes downhill fast. The wind swings onshore and gets strong, and the conditions become poor through the rest of the month and into the start of August. There’s a big gap of poor to marginal surf right through to the 6th of August.
Now, look at Thursday morning, August 6th. That’s a long-range shout, so it’s promising but less certain. The swell is a solid 12 feet from the SSE, with a very strong combined energy (3609). The wind is offshore from the SSW at 9 mph, giving us clean conditions. But that’s a big wave – over 8 feet – so it’s strictly for experts. The period is a short 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit of a wind swell, but the offshore wind will hold it up. The afternoon of the 6th and the 7th get messy again.
So, for the whole 16-day window, the only clear standout is that Saturday morning, July 25th. Before that, it’s a write-off, and after that, it’s a long, dry spell until the 6th of August, which is a gamble for the brave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Thu night, calm by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 62mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 9 | SSW 15 | SE 9 | SSW 14 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 447 | 878 | 872 | 2922 | 949 | 610 | 508 | 506 | 484 | 233 | 256 | 204 | 411 | 204 | 651 | 1026 | 636 | 743 | 697 | 805 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 11:22PM1.10m | 12:30PM1.00m | 00:57AM1.13m | 1:45PM1.09m | 1:57AM1.22m | 2:31PM1.20m | 2:39AM1.32m | 3:07PM1.32m | 3:13AM1.42m | 3:38PM1.42m | 3:43AM1.50m | 4:08PM1.52m | 4:12AM1.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:23PM0.67m | 6:05AM0.66m | 6:21PM0.68m | 7:30AM0.58m | 7:40PM0.60m | 8:19AM0.47m | 8:28PM0.49m | 8:55AM0.36m | 9:05PM0.39m | 9:26AM0.26m | 9:37PM0.31m | 9:55AM0.17m | 10:08PM0.24m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 18 | 8 | 16 |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SE 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 447 | 66 | 522 | 2922 | 346 | 389 | 353 | 257 | 484 | 233 | 208 | 147 | 77 | 204 | 651 | 604 | 580 | 743 | 640 | 805 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | ENE 7 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 142 | 21 | 61 | 30 | 949 | 610 | 508 | 506 | 152 | 71 | 256 | 204 | 52 | 85 | 40 | 25 | 636 | 561 | 697 | 497 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | S 23 | E 8 | — | SE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | S 13 | — | E 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | — |
| kJ | 52 | 10 | 4 | — | 41 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 62 | 201 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 13 | — | 37 | 88 | 84 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | — | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 9 | SE 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 88 | 878 | 872 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 13 | 158 | 372 | — | 411 | 157 | 318 | 1026 | 357 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 23 | 114 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 266 | 412 | 0 | 3 | 182 | 39 | 39 | 1027 | 643 | 238 | 290 | 372 |
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.
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