Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, S swell with 6,753 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period with ESE 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 (Aug 04) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 11s |
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’s cookin’ at Whale Rock over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, the first week is a write-off. We’ve got a long, flat, and messy stretch from the start of August all the way through to the 11th. There’s nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is onshore or cross-shore almost every session, and the swell is either tiny or just plain ugly. The 10th and 11th actually see a massive spike in size – we’re talking 13ft to 16ft – but the wind is howling out of the SSW and S at 18 to 28 mph, making it a total washing machine. That’s kite-surfing territory, not for paddle surfers. The combined energy is massive (4149 to 12198), but it’s all wasted.
The real action, and the only standout, hits on Wednesday the 12th of August. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The morning sees a clean 15ft swell from the SSE with a period of 13 seconds, and a light WSW cross-offshore breeze at just 9 mph. The wave energy is pumping at 6853, and the conditions are described as exceptional for expert surfers. This is a heavy, powerful groundswell – that period is over 11 seconds, so it’s got real grunt. At 15ft, this is strictly for the experienced crew; beginners need to stay well clear. The afternoon holds up too, with a 15ft SSE swell, period bumping to 14 seconds, and light S cross-shore winds. That’s a solid day of beastly waves.
Thursday the 13th is still big, with 15ft from the SE, but the wind swings NE and picks up to 12 mph in the morning, bringing some cross-chop. The afternoon gets worse with a stronger cross-onshore. It’s still big, but the quality drops.
After that, the swell slowly backs off through the rest of the week, but the wind stays messy from the NE and ENE, making it a struggle to find clean faces. The 15th and 16th see the size drop under 7ft, with period shortening, and the wind is still not cooperating. The 18th and 19th are flat and small with onshore winds.
So, the bottom line: the first 11 days are a bust. Your best bet is Wednesday the 12th of August at Whale Rock for a serious, heavy, clean session. That’s the one. The 13th is still big but less clean. After that, we’re winding down with choppy, onshore slop.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 10 | SSE 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 442 | 380 | 294 | 231 | 299 | 258 | 251 | 191 | 408 | 235 | 167 | 273 | 596 | 515 | 246 | 493 | 553 | 332 | 255 | 4079 | 6388 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:09PM1.52m | 7:20AM1.31m | 7:53PM1.41m | 8:10AM1.18m | 8:54PM1.28m | 9:33AM1.06m | 10:39PM1.20m | 11:51AM1.05m | 00:36AM1.24m | 1:28PM1.20m | 1:50AM1.37m | 2:25PM1.38m | 2:42AM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:48PM0.20m | 1:23AM0.34m | 1:27PM0.32m | 2:13AM0.45m | 2:18PM0.45m | 3:27AM0.56m | 3:43PM0.57m | 5:27AM0.59m | 5:54PM0.59m | 7:11AM0.48m | 7:30PM0.46m | 8:12AM0.32m | 8:30PM0.31m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | |  |  |  |  |  | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 15 | 4 | 7 |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — |
| kJ | 442 | 380 | 294 | 231 | 299 | 148 | 149 | 151 | 408 | 235 | 167 | 135 | 596 | 515 | 143 | 250 | 553 | 162 | 149 | 92 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SW 15 | ENE 6 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SE 6 | — | SSW 12 | NE 9 | — |
| kJ | 38 | 37 | 58 | 28 | 56 | 41 | 251 | 191 | 92 | 83 | 83 | 87 | 88 | 106 | 246 | 493 | 2 | — | 98 | 51 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 17 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | S 11 | — | E 10 | SE 6 | — | — | S 15 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 21 | 19 | 11 | 258 | 28 | 23 | 13 | 54 | 67 | 273 | 110 | — | 34 | 2 | — | — | 68 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 10 | SSE 11 |
| kJ | 16 | 31 | 100 | 51 | 68 | 85 | 104 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | 74 | — | 361 | 328 | 332 | 255 | 4079 | 6388 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 186 | 0 | 16 | 186 | 0 | 114 | 115 | 0 | 113 | 114 | 0 | 221 | 186 | 0 | 214 | 1709 | 1687 | 1025 | 631 | 593 |
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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