Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,723 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 12s period with S 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whale Rock in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, but in feet and miles per hour. Let's talk about this run of swell, or lack thereof.
Gotta level with you, this is a rough patch. Don't even think about waxing up for a week or so – there's a big dry spell ahead.
The first time you might want to even look at the water is the morning of Monday, August 31st, over at Whale Rock. But don't get excited. This is a tricky, inconsistent reef setup. The swell is a small 4ft from the east, with weak energy. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it's not helping. The water is around 70°, which is pretty normal. It's a marginal call at best, only for the truly desperate.
The whole first week of September is a total bust. The wind is always onshore or cross-onshore, chopping up whatever tiny waves try to show. We see a spike in energy on September 2nd with a 4ft south-southwest swell and a very long 19-second period, but the onshore wind will just blow it out.
Things get bigger but not better. On September 5th, we get a 6ft south swell with a strong pulse of energy, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore making it lumpy. It's not clean. The following days are all onshore slop.
The only possible standout, and I'm stretching here, is the morning of Tuesday, September 8th. The swell is tiny, only 3ft from the south-southwest, but the wind is light and cross-onshore. For an expert on a longboard at this inconsistent reef, it might just be rideable. The energy is weak.
We get some size towards the end of the second week, with swells reaching 8ft on the 10th and 12th of September, and a massive pulse of energy. But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore every time, making it choppy and messy. For this spot, wind is everything, and it's just not cooperating.
Honestly, for most of this period, the conditions are better for a kite than a paddle board.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 7 | ENE 4 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 9 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 342 | 333 | 228 | 137 | 63 | 104 | 72 | 113 | 212 | 207 | 27 | 27 | 47 | 328 | 170 | 1221 | 1052 | 529 | 619 | 2199 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:09PM1.71m | 4:16AM1.66m | 4:35PM1.77m | 4:44AM1.67m | 5:02PM1.78m | 5:12AM1.64m | 5:31PM1.75m | 5:42AM1.57m | 6:02PM1.67m | 6:14AM1.47m | 6:36PM1.54m | 6:50AM1.33m | 7:17PM1.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:14PM0.08m | 10:21AM-0.02m | 10:42PM0.04m | 10:48AM-0.03m | 11:10PM0.05m | 11:15AM0.00m | 11:41PM0.09m | 11:45AM0.07m | 00:13AM0.18m | 12:18PM0.18m | 00:49AM0.31m | 12:55PM0.33m | 1:36AM0.46m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 26 |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 16 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 25 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | ENE 9 | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 9 | SW 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 8 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 342 | 958 | 228 | 137 | 528 | 277 | 334 | 288 | 212 | 207 | 188 | 110 | 47 | 181 | 101 | 1221 | 1052 | 529 | 127 | 169 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 12 | SW 14 | SSW 10 | S 11 | S 6 | SSE 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 10 | SW 13 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSW 13 | S 16 |
| kJ | 170 | 333 | 8 | 10 | 63 | 66 | 22 | 113 | 53 | 44 | 27 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 170 | 59 | 99 | 121 | 195 | 126 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 15 | — | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSE 11 | SSE 13 | SE 5 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | — | — | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | SSW 15 |
| kJ | — | 9 | — | 7 | 6 | 40 | 18 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 2 | — | — | 90 | 72 | 92 | — | 246 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 3 | S 9 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 897 | 1689 | 943 | 1211 | 154 | 104 | 72 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 253 | 328 | 125 | 119 | — | 3 | 619 | 2199 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 186 | 70 | 118 | 143 | 114 | 6 | 25 | 39 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 289 | 266 | 154 | 20 | 163 | 23 | 10 | 2846 | 0 |
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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