Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with 1,460 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s 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 1.8m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 8AM. 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what we've got coming up at Whale Rock.
First off, the water is sitting at a pretty standard 70°, so nothing weird going on there for this time of year. Now, the bad news first: the first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are a total loss with messy, cross-onshore wind and poor surf. We've got a bit of a lull here with nothing worth paddling out for until things start to shift.
Monday the 31st shows a glimmer of hope in the morning. The wind switches to a light offshore from the ESE, and we get a 4ft swell pushing in from the east with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (295). It's still pretty marginal, but that offshore wind is the key – it could clean it up enough for a sneaky session if you're keen.
The real standout is shaping up for Wednesday the 2nd of September. We've got a solid 4ft groundswell from the SSW with a 14-second period. That's proper energy (553), and while the wind is a light cross-onshore, the long period means better shaped waves and more power. This setup really suits a reef break like Whale Rock. It's an advanced wave, and with that long period, the sets will be well-spaced. Keep an eye on the tide, but this is the best on offer.
Now, looking further out, there's a big, raw pulse of energy forecast for Thursday the 10th of September. We're talking a 13ft to 15ft swell from the east (energy a massive 4101). The period is shorter at 9-10 seconds, which means it's going to be a powerful, lumpy mess with a cross-onshore wind. That kind of size at an exposed reef is strictly for very experienced (and slightly mental) experts only. The conditions are marginal and the wind isn't great, so it's a promise of size but not necessarily quality.
Between those two dates, there are a few days where it's blown out or just too messy. Wednesday morning the 3rd of September has a clean, cross-off wind but a massive 12ft swell from a stormy S direction – again, huge and gnarly. Most of the other days are plagued by strong cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions, especially around the 5th, 6th, and 7th. The 7th of September afternoon actually has clean wind, but the swell is only 3ft, so it's a small, tidy wave.
So, keep your powder dry for the morning of Monday the 31st if you're desperate, or lock in the morning of Wednesday the 2nd for the best chance at a decent session. That long-period SSW groundswell is the one to watch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat night, calm by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 16°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 6 | S 6 | S 9 | E 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
232 | 137 | 63 | 88 | 148 | 158 | 212 | 45 | 15 | 31 | 104 | 243 | 508 | 486 | 418 | 217 | 1368 | 751 | 588 | 669 | 1265 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 7:37AM1.16m | 8:19PM1.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:46PM0.51m | 2:53AM0.62m | |||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 15 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 22 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | E 9 | SSW 17 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 15 |
232 | 137 | 495 | 277 | 341 | 288 | 212 | 173 | 192 | 169 | 202 | 137 | 508 | 486 | 418 | 217 | 39 | 216 | 492 | 291 | 1265 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 10 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | ENE 4 | SSW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 8 | ESE 5 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | E 10 |
8 | 10 | 63 | 40 | 23 | 158 | 72 | 45 | 4 | 9 | 104 | 243 | 73 | 79 | 51 | 18 | 9 | 29 | 588 | 669 | 49 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | SSE 14 | SE 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 7 | SW 14 | S 9 | — | — | — | NE 8 | E 8 | — | SW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | — |
8 | 7 | — | 18 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 31 | 2 | — | — | — | 23 | 51 | — | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | — | ENE 4 | — | ENE 9 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | S 6 | ENE 3 | — | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | ESE 8 |
913 | 1132 | 143 | 88 | 148 | — | — | — | 13 | — | 301 | 29 | 89 | 67 | 3 | — | 1368 | 751 | — | — | 173 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 113 | 145 | 114 | 401 | 39 | 1 | 23 | 154 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 238 | 1 | 290 | 16 | 39 | 238 | 39 | 238 | 1026 | 37 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











