Surf Forecasts:
Whale Rock surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 14s 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
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 shaping up for us. This is a tricky one, because the only spot on the cards is Whale Rock, and it’s an advanced reef break that’s pretty inconsistent. The good news is, when it works, it can be special. The bad news is, there’s a big gap of dud days to sit through.
The real action is in the first week of August. We’ve got a quiet spell before that, with a lot of messy, windy conditions chewing up the swell. The standout window is Monday the 3rd of August. That morning, we’re looking at a clean 6 ft swell from the ESE, and the wind is glassy, dead calm. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 71.4°F.
The combined energy is strong, hitting 1154. That’s serious power for an advanced wave. The period is 11 seconds, which gives it some proper grunt and shape, but for a reef, that’s a good thing – it’ll line up nicely. The afternoon is just as good: still 6 ft, still glassy, same strong energy (1145). This is the best we’ve got on offer, no question. It’s not for beginners, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, it’s a proper session.
Tuesday the 4th of August is still solid, with 5 ft ESE swell, glassy in the morning (energy 702). The wind is light, so it’ll be clean.
Before that, there’s a lot of noise. From Saturday the 25th of July morning, we do get a clean 4.3 ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period (energy 1004), and glassy winds. That’s a solid combo, but the issue is the inconsistency of the break. The Saturday afternoon hangs in there, but by Sunday the 26th, the wind turns cross-on and it gets lumpy. From there, it’s a long slog of poor conditions, with strong winds and choppy, messy surf right through until the end of July. There’s a marginal window on Tuesday the 28th with a very long 16-second period SSW swell, but the cross-on wind spoils it.
So, the takeaway: if you’re an experienced surfer, set your sights on Monday the 3rd of August. That’s the real deal. The rest of the run is pretty grim until then.
Stay stoked.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 8 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 508 | 586 | 551 | 283 | 237 | 257 | 446 | 867 | 627 | 589 | 437 | 407 | 344 | 257 | 424 | 466 | 452 | 305 | 203 | 192 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:57AM1.22m | 2:31PM1.20m | 2:39AM1.32m | 3:07PM1.32m | 3:13AM1.42m | 3:38PM1.42m | 3:43AM1.50m | 4:08PM1.52m | 4:12AM1.56m | 4:36PM1.59m | 4:40AM1.59m | 5:04PM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:40PM0.60m | 8:19AM0.47m | 8:28PM0.49m | 8:55AM0.36m | 9:05PM0.39m | 9:26AM0.26m | 9:37PM0.31m | 9:55AM0.17m | 10:08PM0.24m | 10:22AM0.10m | 10:37PM0.19m | 10:49AM0.06m | 11:07PM0.17m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 345 | 586 | 551 | 283 | 128 | 99 | 49 | 867 | 627 | 589 | 224 | 338 | 344 | 257 | 424 | 466 | 452 | 305 | 203 | 192 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | SSW 15 | SE 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 10 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 508 | 235 | 155 | 59 | 237 | 257 | 147 | 21 | 29 | 544 | 140 | 407 | 277 | 192 | 158 | 166 | 297 | 268 | 138 | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SSW 18 | E 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 10 | S 11 | E 9 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 14 | S 8 | S 8 | E 10 | S 8 | SSW 13 | E 11 |
| kJ | 2 | 31 | 5 | 211 | 106 | 11 | 2 | 16 | 23 | 15 | 437 | 88 | 120 | 253 | 22 | 21 | 32 | 11 | 158 | 21 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 7 | SSW 2 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 8 | — | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | E 3 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 8 | 64 | 377 | 2 | 446 | 176 | 522 | — | 330 | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | 3 | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 186 | 412 | 0 | 54 | 372 | 0 | 643 | 29 | 238 | 190 | 23 | 16 | 182 | 289 | 37 | 289 | 289 |
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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