Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, E swell with 3,524 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period. 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 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 2PM. 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 11s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's break down what's on offer. The only spot we've got to talk about is Whale Rock. It's a tricky reef for advanced surfers only, it's inconsistent, and it can get a bit crowded now and then. Water temp is 64°, which is about 5° colder than normal for this time of year, so you're gonna want a thicker suit.
There's a bit of a lull to start. Monday the 14th is no good – 2ft of sloppy SSW swell with strong onshore wind. Tuesday morning the 15th has a 7ft east swell, but it's only 10 seconds and light cross-shore wind keeps it from being clean. Not the one.
The real action is Saturday the 19th. Saturday morning is your best bet. We're talking 12ft of east-southeast swell, period at 10 seconds, and the combined energy is pumping at 2980 – that's powerful. Light north wind blowing cross-offshore, making for clean waves. This is big, over 8ft, so it's experts only. The surf is expected to be excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets messy with a fresh onshore breeze, so get out early.
Sunday the 20th morning is still solid at 10ft east swell, but with a light cross-onshore breeze. The afternoon cleans up again with 8ft east swell and light cross-offshore wind from the north-northwest. That's another excellent session for advanced guys.
After that, the week looks pretty grim with a lot of wind and chop. So, to sum it up for the experts: Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon at Whale Rock are the ones to circle. Don't expect much else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 24°C on Mon night, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 122mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 12 | E 10 | SSW 11 | E 10 | SSW 16 | SW 13 | S 7 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 102 | 199 | 1020 | 40 | 640 | 26 | 732 | 340 | 290 | 371 | 1208 | 865 | 1480 | 1885 | 2829 | 3378 | 3122 | 1539 | 998 | 580 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:23PM1.69m | 5:34AM1.52m | 5:48PM1.56m | 5:59AM1.41m | 6:12PM1.42m | 6:23AM1.28m | 6:36PM1.27m | 6:48AM1.13m | 7:04PM1.12m | 7:24AM0.98m | 7:58PM0.97m | 12:13PM0.92m | 00:35AM0.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:31PM0.13m | 11:35AM0.15m | 11:56PM0.24m | 12:00PM0.28m | 00:22AM0.37m | 12:26PM0.43m | 00:49AM0.51m | 12:53PM0.58m | 1:27AM0.65m | 1:35PM0.74m | 3:45AM0.77m | 6:19PM0.79m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 10 | 15 | 32 | 14 | 14 | 37 | 10 | — | — | — | 5 | 4 |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 |
Feels °C | 18 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | E 11 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 8 | E 9 | SSW 11 | ESE 10 | SSW 15 | ESE 11 | SW 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 102 | 2280 | 1020 | 739 | 640 | 450 | 363 | 302 | 290 | 371 | 1055 | 865 | 143 | 1885 | 123 | 3378 | 38 | 1539 | 998 | 580 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SW 15 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | — | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | — | 85 | 51 | 40 | 18 | 26 | 732 | 54 | 115 | 161 | 321 | 161 | — | 82 | 28 | 92 | 10 | 31 | 61 | 158 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 19 | SSW 10 | — | — | SW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | SSW 16 | — | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 14 | 11 | — | — | 86 | 73 | 279 | — | — | — | 97 | — | — | — | 21 | 23 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | SSW 12 | — | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 9 | — | ESE 10 | — | E 10 | — | — | SW 4 |
| kJ | 3178 | 199 | — | — | — | 97 | 419 | 340 | 159 | 174 | 1208 | 204 | 1480 | — | 2829 | — | 3122 | — | — | 14 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 133 | 1 | 10 | 254 | 0 | 238 | 643 | 114 | 290 | 238 | 281 | 281 | 446 | 214 | 0 | 643 | 113 | 16 | 0 | 1 |
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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