Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 13 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
17.1°C
3.4° 

Whale Rock surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Whale Rock surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, E swell with 4,319 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 (Sep 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.0m 11s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 14th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 13s
Best Surf 2AM (Sat 19th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 19th Sep)15ft (4.5m) 10s

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's cookin' for Whale Rock.

Right off the bat, the water temperature is a real shocker at 63°, a whopping 6° colder than normal for this time of year. That's very unusual, so you're gonna want a thick wetsuit if you're even thinking about paddling out.

Honestly, the next week to ten days are a write-off. We've got a long stretch of poor conditions with strong cross-onshore winds and messy, lumpy surf. From Sunday the 13th right through to the end of the week, every session is a battle against the wind. There's some solid swell in there, with combined energy hitting over 2000 (2130 on the 14th and 2274 on the 19th) but the 12ft plus of easterly windswell is just going to be a blown-out mess with the relentless cross-onshore breeze. It's way too big and choppy for anyone but experts, and even then, it's not worth it.

After that dry spell, there is one true standout that gets me a little excited. Look at Monday the 21st of September morning. The wind is set to go glassy – dead calm – and we’ll have a clean 6ft swell from the ESE with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a solid 828, which is moderate but will pack a punch. That's the pick of the whole forecast. Whale Rock is a reef break, so that long-period energy (10 seconds is decent) should wrap in nicely. Get in the water early.

The rest of that day and the days following just don't hold up. The wind comes back onshore or swings around, messing with the waves. There are a few marginal calls, like Wednesday the 23rd morning with a 4ft easterly swell, but that gentle cross-shore breeze will leave a slight chop. It's surfable, but nothing to write home about.

So, to keep it short: the forecast is mostly a bust. The one real chance for some clean, glassy waves is the morning of Monday the 21st. Mark it on your calendar. Before that, save your energy. The ocean's just not playing ball.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 54mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night).

Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
2
0
1
3
0
2
4
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSW
17
2.5
E
8
3
E
9
3.5
E
9
0.5
SSW
14
0.7
SW
12
2.2
E
10
0.4
SSW
11
1.8
E
10
0.6
SSW
12
1.8
SSW
6
1.4
S
6
2
S
7
2.1
S
8
1.9
SSE
8
2.2
SE
8
2.3
ESE
8
3
ESE
8
2.5
E
8
3.5
E
9
4
E
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
657
857
1138
1960
104
159
1000
40
627
113
207
143
384
545
445
516
575
1009
1014
2214
3601
Wind (km/h)
30
ENE
35
ENE
35
ENE
35
ENE
45
NE
15
SW
20
ENE
15
ENE
10
WSW
25
SSW
35
SSW
15
SW
30
S
25
S
5
S
20
ESE
10
NE
10
N
20
NE
25
ENE
25
NNE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
4:57PM1.78m
5:08AM1.61m
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
Low Tide
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
12:26PM0.43m
00:49AM0.51m
12:53PM0.58m
1:27AM0.65m
1:35PM0.74m
3:45AM0.77m
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
mod rain
mod rain
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:05
6:03
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:53
5:53
5:54
5:54
5:55
5:57
 mm
2
1
1
1
5
18
8
7
8
6
1
Temp °C
21
22
21
22
24
23
23
22
21
22
20
17
15
15
16
15
15
16
17
18
17
Feels °C
19
19
17
18
19
22
21
20
21
20
15
12
10
11
13
13
13
15
13
13
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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