Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 24 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
22.4° C
1.7° 

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 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 3,228 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 16s 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Fri 24th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 16s
Best Surf 8PM (Fri 24th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 16s
Most Powerful 5PM (Fri 24th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whale Rock over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G'day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Whale Rock. This is a reef break that needs a solid S groundswell to light up, and it’s a spot for advanced surfers only—when it’s on, it’s on, but it’s inconsistent. Right now, the waiting game is real. There’s a bit of swell on the way this Friday, but the conditions are ugly, so we’ll have to sit through a few days of nothing much before things come together.

Friday the 24th kicks off with a messy SSW swell around 8 ft, but a stiff 30 km/h cross-off wind is blowing, and the water is a touch warmer than average at 72°. The energy is strong (1507), but the whole morning is a write-off with rain showers and marginal surf. The afternoon sees the swell bump to 8 ft with a 16-second period, making it a powerful, very long-period groundswell—great for a reef like this, but the cross-shore wind is 25 km/h and the energy is massive (3317), so it’s a messy, choppy situation. Not worth paddling out.

Saturday the 25th is where it gets interesting. The swell drops to a clean 4 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the morning is glassy—zero wind. That’s the kind of silence that makes a reef sing. The energy is moderate (993), but the conditions are perfect. This is the standout of the whole outlook. The waves will be clean, lined up, and the long period means good shape and easier paddling between sets. Crowds are possible here, so get in early. The afternoon stays okay with a light cross-on, but the morning is the call.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are a letdown. The swell holds around 3 ft to 4 ft, but the wind swings onshore—fresh and lumpy—so the surf is poor. The energy drops to weak (661–267). Forget about it.

Tuesday the 28th brings a jump in size, with a 7 ft SSE swell in the morning, but it’s short-period (8 seconds) and choppy under a moderate cross-on wind. The afternoon offers a 5 ft SSW swell with an incredible 18-second period and an onshore breeze, but the energy is strong (1882). The waves might be too fat and straight for a beach break, but on this reef, that long period could set up some nice lines—though the wind is a problem.

The rest of the week into early August is a mixed bag. Wednesday and Thursday see 5 ft to 7 ft swells, but they’re marred by rain and cross-on winds, so the surf is marginal at best. The energy stays moderate to strong (1141–1254), but the conditions aren’t there.

Then, on Sunday the 2nd of August, we get a second window. The morning brings a 7 ft ESE swell with an 11-second period and a light cross-off wind from the SW at 10 km/h. The energy is moderate (1007), and the conditions are clean. This is solid for experienced surfers, but it’s not the glassy perfection of that Saturday morning. The swell direction is from the ESE, which is not the optimum S direction for this reef, so the waves might not have the same punch.

After that, the size drops off through the first week of August, with swells under 5 ft and mostly onshore winds. The 7th and 8th of August have clean cross-off winds but the swell is only 3 ft to 5 ft, with weak energy (403–729). Not much to get excited about.

So, the true standout is Saturday the 25th, morning, at Whale Rock. That 4 ft SSW groundswell with glassy conditions is the best on offer. The second best is Sunday the 2nd of August, morning, for a bigger, cleaner swell, but it’s not as special. The rest of the 16 days are mostly a write-off with marginal surf and poor winds. No web links, no speculation. Just the facts.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri morning, calm by Sat morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 73mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the ESE by Wed night).

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
3
2
3
0
0
2
1
0
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
SSW
9
2.5
SSW
16
1.6
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
13
1.2
SSW
13
1
SSW
12
0.7
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
7
1
SSW
15
2.1
SSE
8
1.4
SSW
18
1.8
SSW
16
1.5
SSW
14
2.1
SE
8
2.3
SE
9
2.2
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
923
3228
1067
610
508
506
476
283
234
257
433
480
621
1259
1571
930
596
863
932
798
997
Wind (km/h)
30
SW
25
SSW
10
WNW
0
ESE
10
ENE
10
N
15
NE
30
NE
10
N
10
S
45
SW
25
S
20
SE
15
ESE
15
E
20
E
10
ESE
5
ESE
20
E
20
ENE
15
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
12:30PM1.00m
00:57AM1.13m
1:45PM1.09m
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
Low Tide
6:21PM0.68m
7:30AM0.58m
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
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:54
6:54
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
 mm
2
9
6
2
19
18
11
8
2
1
Temp °C
16
18
17
17
17
16
18
20
18
23
20
19
16
16
14
13
15
16
17
17
17
Feels °C
9
10
14
16
15
14
14
15
14
19
13
13
12
13
10
8
13
12
13
13
13
  • 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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