Whale Rock Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.94° S 29.22° E

Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 28 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whale Rock sea temperature is
21.9° C
1.2° 

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 28 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, E swell with 1,495 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 14s. 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 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) 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 3.0m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2PM (Wed 29th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 30th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 9s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sun 2nd Aug)8ft (2.5m) 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’s coming down the pipe for Whale Rock. It’s a tricky outlook, to be honest. This spot is a reef setup, and it’s inconsistent, so it doesn’t fire all the time. We’ve got a long stretch ahead with some real frustration, but a couple of windows that’ll get the blood pumping.

The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, coming in at 71°F on Tuesday morning, so you’ll be comfortable in a shorty or maybe even boardies if you’re hardy.

The first few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are mostly a mess of cross-onshore winds and poor surf conditions. You’ll see the swell tick up, but the wind just ruins it. Thursday the 30th morning has a clean look with a cross-offshore breeze and a 8ft SE swell, but the energy is moderate (1917), and the quality is still marginal. I wouldn’t rush out.

The real standout for the first week is Friday morning, the 31st of July. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a nice 7ft swell from the ESE at a 9-second period. The energy is moderate (891), and the conditions are glassy. That’s the one to circle. It’s the best on offer in the near term. The swell is over 5ft, so it’s not for beginners, but for anyone comfortable on a reef, it’ll be clean.

Then we hit a long, dry spell. From Friday afternoon all the way through to Wednesday, the 6th of August, it’s basically a no-go. The wind is all over the shop, mostly cross-onshore, and the swell quality drops off a cliff. There’s a brief moment on Thursday morning, August 6th, with a glassy 2ft SSW groundswell, but it’s tiny and weak (120 energy). Not worth a paddle.

The next real highlight comes further out. On Friday, August 7th, the afternoon session looks promising. The wind goes glassy again, and there’s a 3ft SSW swell with a very long 14-second period. The energy is moderate (612), and the conditions are clean. It’s a small day, but that long period will wrap nicely into the reef. This is a long-range call, so don’t book the day off work just yet, but it’s got potential.

After that, a big, angry swell shows up for the second week. Sunday, August 9th morning, has a 7ft SSW groundswell with a 13-second period and cross-offshore wind. The energy is strong (2563), so there’s plenty of power, but it’s marginal quality. Then Monday, August 10th morning, is the biggest of the whole run: an 12ft SE swell, with a 9-second period, and a clean cross-offshore breeze. The energy is very strong (3319). That’s expert territory only. Anything over 8ft on a reef is serious, and the period is short, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and powerful. Not for the faint of heart.

The rest of the run fades out with a messy cross-shore wind and marginal conditions. The last interesting moment is Wednesday, August 12th, with a 5ft SSW groundswell at a very long 19-second period. The energy is moderate (1994), and the wind is just a gentle cross-shore. It’ll be a clean line-up, but with that period, expect long waits between sets. Great for the point break crowd.

So, to sum it up: Friday morning, July 31st, is your best bet in the first week. For the second week, keep an eye on Friday afternoon, August 7th, and the big Sunday and Monday mornings if you’re an expert. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 81mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat afternoon).

Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
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
2
2
3
3
3
1
4
3
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
4
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)
1.1
SSW
16
2.4
SSE
8
2.1
SSE
8
2
SE
8
1.8
SE
8
2
SE
9
2.1
SE
9
2
SE
9
2.3
SE
9
2
ESE
9
1.9
ESE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.9
ESE
9
2.2
E
9
2.2
E
9
2.2
E
10
2.5
E
10
2.3
E
10
1.8
E
10
1.9
E
10
1.8
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
620
745
558
507
448
580
772
595
863
666
588
370
592
830
845
968
1453
1039
623
668
549
Wind (km/h)
25
SSE
20
SSE
15
ESE
10
ENE
5
WNW
15
WSW
25
SW
20
SSW
10
WSW
5
S
15
ENE
15
NNE
25
NE
35
NE
25
NNE
25
NE
30
NE
10
N
10
NE
20
NE
15
NNE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
High Tide
3:38PM1.42m
3:43AM1.50m
4:08PM1.52m
4:12AM1.56m
4:36PM1.59m
4:40AM1.59m
5:04PM1.64m
5:09AM1.59m
5:33PM1.66m
5:38AM1.57m
6:02PM1.65m
6:08AM1.51m
6:33PM1.60m
Low Tide
9:26AM0.26m
9:37PM0.31m
9:55AM0.17m
10:08PM0.24m
10:22AM0.10m
10:37PM0.19m
10:49AM0.06m
11:07PM0.17m
11:17AM0.05m
11:37PM0.17m
11:45AM0.07m
00:09AM0.20m
12:15PM0.12m
00:43AM0.25m
heavy rain
mod rain
mod rain
mod rain
heavy rain
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:54
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:28
 mm
28
10
10
7
13
8
2
3
1
Temp °C
16
16
16
15
14
15
16
17
16
17
18
17
18
19
17
18
22
19
22
22
20
Feels °C
12
11
13
12
14
13
11
11
12
17
15
14
14
13
12
13
17
15
19
19
18
  • 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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