
Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, E swell with 1,683 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with E 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 (Sep 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 10s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got coming up. It's a mixed bag for Whale Rock, with a long quiet spell ahead before a couple of windows open up.
The whole start of this outlook is a write-off for any decent surfing. We’re looking at days of poor conditions from the 11th to the 14th of September. The onshore and cross-shore winds are gonna be messy, making for lumpy, choppy surf. There’s some swell energy, but the quality is just not there. You’d be better off staying home for that first stretch.
The first real glimmer comes on Tuesday the 15th of September. Early morning we get a bit of a gem. The wind goes glassy, and there’s a 7ft swell rolling in from the East with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate-to-strong (950). This is where you want to be in the water. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that East swell better than a beach would, but keep in mind it’s an advanced spot and it can get a bit inconsistent. Also, it can get crowded sometimes. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The afternoon sees the wind shift back onshore and the quality drops off, so get it while it’s good in the morning.
After that, we’re back to poor conditions until the morning of Thursday the 17th. That morning is another glassy window, with a 5ft south swell, period of 8 seconds. It’s a shorter period, but with no wind it’ll be clean and rideable. A solid option for a session.
Then we hit another rough patch. The following days are plagued by onshores and cross-shore winds, lumping up the surf. The energy is there, but the quality isn't.
Now, looking further out, there’s something that catches the eye but it's a bit of a gamble. On Sunday the 20th of September, we get a very long-period groundswell from the SSW, coming in at 7ft with a period of 19 seconds. The combined energy is massive (3556). That’s a lot of power, and that kind of period will make for some proper, lined-up waves. But, the wind is cross-shore and the surf forecast is described as marginal. For a reef break like Whale Rock, a long-period SSW swell is the optimum direction, so it could be incredible if the wind cooperates. However, with that period and that size, it will be very powerful and for experts only. It’s a promising outlook, but a week and a half out, treat it as a hopeful heads-up rather than a certainty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Fri night, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Wed afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Mon afternoon, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSE 8 | E 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | E 8 | ESE 10 | E 11 | SSW 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | SSW 8 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
252 | 144 | 73 | 58 | 96 | 182 | 164 | 537 | 475 | 727 | 512 | 991 | 85 | 900 | 711 | 550 | 0 | 706 | 294 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:41AM1.67m | 4:00PM1.82m | 4:12AM1.69m | 4:29PM1.83m | 4:40AM1.67m | 4:57PM1.78m | 5:08AM1.61m | 5:23PM1.69m | 5:34AM1.52m | 5:48PM1.56m | 5:59AM1.41m | 6:12PM1.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:39PM0.04m | 9:45AM-0.03m | 10:09PM0.00m | 10:14AM-0.05m | 10:38PM0.01m | 10:42AM-0.02m | 11:05PM0.05m | 11:09AM0.05m | 11:31PM0.13m | 11:35AM0.15m | 11:56PM0.24m | 12:00PM0.28m | 00:22AM0.37m | ||||||
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
5:51 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 13 | 11 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ESE 8 | SSW 15 | ESE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 10 |
243 | 169 | 140 | 150 | 96 | 85 | 68 | 161 | 389 | 272 | 512 | 1611 | 1202 | 900 | 711 | 550 | 378 | 250 | 245 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ENE 9 | SSW 11 | SSE 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 10 | SSW 14 | E 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | — | SW 16 | SW 15 |
252 | 144 | 18 | 30 | 108 | 40 | 47 | 537 | 475 | 7 | 168 | 991 | 85 | 50 | 47 | 27 | — | 66 | 106 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | E 9 | E 9 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 13 | — | — | SW 16 | S 10 | — | — | — |
5 | 5 | 73 | 58 | 53 | 25 | 164 | 59 | 74 | 7 | 2 | 101 | — | — | 10 | 18 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | E 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | S 7 |
51 | 45 | — | — | 83 | 182 | 141 | — | — | 727 | 1437 | 3554 | — | — | — | — | 207 | 706 | 294 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 238 | 289 | 629 | 289 | 289 | 289 | 289 | 403 | 133 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 290 | 643 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










